Choir organ of the Nantes Cathedral, Pipe organ in Nantes Cathedral, France

The choir organ of Nantes Cathedral stands in the choir of the Gothic cathedral Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul, on a tribune behind the choir stalls rather than in the west gallery. Its carved wooden case holds tin and zinc pipes above a mechanical key and stop action. The position lets the organist lead the singers of the choir at close range.

The organ originated during a period when pipe organs were essential to religious services and underwent several modifications that updated its mechanical systems. It survived World War II bombing and a fire in 1972, continuing to serve its liturgical purpose.

Both sacred music and secular concerts are performed on this instrument, maintaining a long musical tradition that shaped how people in this region experience sound and community. The repertoire reflects the tastes of worshippers and concert audiences across different periods.

The choir organ stands in the choir of the cathedral, near the stalls where the clergy and singers sit, so listeners in the nave hear it from behind the crossing. Look for the case above the choir enclosure. Access follows the cathedral's opening hours; the instrument is heard during services and at concerts rather than visited on its own.

The choir organ was rebuilt by Louis Debierre in 1890, and its case is a classified historical monument in its own right. Look for the ornate wooden casing above the console, which survived the 1972 fire that destroyed the cathedral roof.