The Valère organ

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General view of the organ from the nave of the church. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

Edmond Voeffray, organist of Sion cathedral. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

An unusual view, invisible to visitors: the bellows of the organ. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

The impressive pipes. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

The keyboard of the organ with the music of the 'Organum Anticuum', one of the pieces played by Edmond Voeffray. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

Detail of the keys and the levers used to change the sonority of the instrument. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

Detail of the decoration and pipes on the left hand side. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

General view of the organ and its decoration from the high altar. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

Detail of the decoration and pipes on the right. Rodrigo Carrizo Couto/swissinfo.ch

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At over 550 years old, it is the oldest working organ in the world

The Gothic organ in Valère, built in about 1430, was restored in 1954 and is now the star of the ancient organ festival in Sion.

Photos: Rodrigo Carrizo Couto