The Sorbonne Chapel is located in the
Sorbonne University Complex. Since the
Middle Ages, the Sorbonne College has been
equipped with a chapel. It was a Gothic
building in Latin cross, the layout of which
can still be seen in the courtyard of the
present-day Sorbonne. Rebuilt in the 17th
century by Jacques Lemercier (1585-1654) on
the orders of Richelieu, the Sorbonne chapel
is distinguished on the outside by an original
façade, and its elegant dome. The chapel,
which was looted during the Revolution, now
contains almost no decorations. However, an
altar topped with a Christ on the cross dating
from the Restoration is visible next to the
cardinal's tomb.
The organ of the Sorbonne Chapel was commissioned
by Pierre-François Dallery in 1825. However, it was
Pierre-François Dallery's son, Louis-Paul (1797-1875)
who carried out the work. The organ was inaugurated
on July 10, 1825. After the chapel reopened in 1852 at
the time of Napoleon III, the new chapel master, Félix
Clément, an official organ expert, had the instrument
restored by Louis-Paul Dallery himself. It was this one,
presumably, who installed the German-like pedal in
1854 that still exists to this day. Felix Clément resigned
in 1859, and the organ was now silenced. Its access was
made more difficult by the removal in 1885 of the
staircase which provided direct access to the tribune,
outside the chapel.
Currently, an association works to its restoration, which
would be really desirable given the authenticity and
quality of the organ.