Cahors Organ Festival

The Cahors Organ Festival: A Musical Event in the Heart of the Lot Heritage

Since 2012, the Cahors Organ Festival has celebrated every autumn the rich sound of the Saint-Étienne Cathedral's great organ, one of the most remarkable historical instruments in southwestern France. Spearheaded by the Association des Amis de l'Orgue de la Cathédrale de Cahors (AAOCC), founded in 1977, this festival has become the emblematic event of musical and cultural life in Cahors centered around the organ.

An Exceptional Instrument for Music

The great organ of Cahors Cathedral, built by the Stoltz company, underwent a major restoration completed in 1993. This historical instrument, with its rich and varied tonal palette, is the beating heart of the festival. It allows for the exploration of repertoire ranging from Baroque music to contemporary creations, including the great works of the Romantic and symphonic repertoire for organ.

An Eclectic and Demanding Program

Each edition of the festival offers a thematic program that renews the approach to the instrument. The concerts create a dialogue between the organ and other musical ensembles: vocal groups, chamber orchestras, early instruments, soloists. Among the themes explored in recent years are: the Italian heritage, voice and organ, Franco-German music, and the links between medieval music and the organ.

The festival hosts organists, singers, and ensembles of national and international renown, while also supporting young talents and emerging artists.

A Festival Open to All

True to its mission of cultural democratization, the Cahors Organ Festival offers varied and accessible formats:

• Market Concerts: Short free recitals on Saturday mornings, open to passers-by and families, in a friendly atmosphere.
• Evening Concerts: Large-scale recitals and concerts featuring the organ, voice, and instrumental ensembles.
• Educational Activities: Guided tours of the organ, school concerts, and large-screen projections of the instrument's mechanism, to introduce young audiences to music and heritage.

Admission is free for under 18s, and tickets are available at the Cahors Tourist Office.

Saint-Étienne Cathedral, A Heritage Setting

A UNESCO World Heritage site as part of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage routes, Saint-Étienne Cathedral in Cahors offers an exceptional architectural and acoustic setting. Its Romanesque domes, unique in France, give the concerts a special resonance that enhances the sound of the organ and the ensembles performing there.

A Player in the Cultural Life of the Lot Region

Beyond the annual festival, the AAOCC organizes concerts, conferences, and events throughout the year focused on the cathedral's organ. Since the instrument's restoration in 1993, over 400 concerts have been organized, making the Cahors organ one of the most active instruments in the Occitanie region.