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Basilica/Church, Montreal
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Basilica/Church, Montreal

Mary Queen of the World - side view - Montreal
Mary Queen of the World - side view
by juniperjune
Basilica/Church tips and photos posted by real travelers and Montreal locals.
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Basilica/Church: Notre-Dame Basilica
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  • rsilva
  • By rsilva on January 5, 2005
  • Montreal Page by rsilva
  • Carved wood panel - Montreal
    Carved wood panel
    by rsilva
    Being Portuguese, I don't easily get impressed with churches/basilicas as there are many impressive ones over there.

    First there was the entrance fee. I don't really like that, but I can understand it as it would otherwise be even more crowded. In any case, it was free for worshippers, so I guess it is alright.

    Then, the actual basilica is nice, quite impressive but the nicest one I've seen (I've been to St. Peter's/San Pietro Basilica...).

    What I really liked, was a small chapel in the back (but still inside) of the basilica, that had a beautiful carved wood panel (see picture).

    Overall, if you are in Montreal it is worth a visit.

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  • Address: 116 Notre-Dame Street, Montreal (Quebec) H2Y 1T2
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    Basilica/Church: Notre-Dame Basilica in Oldtown
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  • jamiesno
  • By jamiesno on October 27, 2004
  • Montreal Page by jamiesno
  • Notre Dame Bascillica - Montreal
    Notre Dame Bascillica
    by jamiesno
    Notre-Dame Basilica was opened in 1829, making it the largest religious edifice in North America at the time. The Sulpicians chose a Neo-Gothic style, and assigned the task to a Protestant architect from New York, James O'Donnell. He later converted to Roman Catholocism so that he could be buried beneath "his" church!

    The Basiclica is without a doubt some of Montreal's most impressive architecture. The detail inside is amazing and you can spend some time in here admiring the place. If you are exploring Old Town in the middle of winter go in for a tour to warm up! :-)

    My camera didn't take the best pictures inside the structure but have a look at my travlogue in any event and you can see some more of this impressive building.

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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame Church
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  • two_ways
  • By two_ways on May 10, 2004
  • Montreal Page by two_ways
  • Notre Dame Church in Old  Montreal - Montreal
    Notre Dame Church in Old
    Montreal
    by two_ways
    If you must visit only one church in Montreal this is the one. An austere exterior contrasts with the splendid blue/gold painted wood interior. The wood carving is exceptional. It is a perfect example of neo-gothic architecture.

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  • Address: Notre Dame street
  • Directions: Old Montreal, Place D'Armes
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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre Dame)
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  • Dabs
  • Updated By Dabs on August 23, 2006
  • Montreal Page by Dabs
  • Basilica Notre Dame - Montreal
    Basilica Notre Dame
    by Dabs,
    4 more photos
    If you are going to visit one church in Montreal, this is it, the interior is filled with beautiful detail work and brilliant bold colors, the vaulted ceiling an aqua sky covered with 24 karat gold stars, the patterned gilded and painted archways, the stained glass windows from Limoges. Behind the main altar is the Sacred Heart Chapel, a more modern part of the church, rebuilt after a fire in 1978. The lighting in the main part of the basilica is very low and most of my pictures did not turn out, photography is permitted.

    Guided tours that last about 20 minutes in both English and French leave periodically from the back of the church and are included in the admission price of $4 CAD, access is always free for services or for praying. Most evenings there is also a light and sound show called La Lumiere Fut, admission for this is $10CAD. Concerts are also held here, our guide said for some performances that there were rehearsals earlier in the day of the performance that you could also hear with the $4 general admission.

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  • Address: 110 rue Notre-Dame ouest
  • Directions: Vieux Montreal Metro : Place d’Armes
  • Website: http://www.basiliquenddm.org/
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    Basilica/Church: Old church, new song
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  • tiabunna
  • Updated By tiabunna on January 9, 2008
  • Montreal Page by tiabunna
  • Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours - Montreal
    Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours
    by tiabunna,
    3 more photos
    For many years, I’ve enjoyed the song “Suzanne” by Leonard Cohen: maybe you know it too? If you’ve a tabbed browser, here’s a Youtube link to it. The song apparently was written in Montreal. Part of the lyrics are “…And the sun pours down like honey on Our Lady of the Harbour…”, but it wasn’t until shortly before our trip that I learned this referred to the church Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, down in the Vieux Ville of Montreal (though the name actually translates as Our Lady of Good Assistance). In any case, clearly we had to go there, and that’s her in photo 2.

    The original church was built in the 17th century by Marguerite Bourgeoys, the first teacher In the new French settlement. Later rebuilt after a fire, and being near the harbour, it became popular with sailors and became known as the “Sailors’ Church”, as reflected by the ships hanging inside (photos 3,4).

    There is an associated museum at the rear of the church – though I must admit I found it of only passing interest.

  • Address: 400 rue St-Paul Est
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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame~Main Altar
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  • nicolettart
  • Updated By nicolettart on January 16, 2004
  • Montreal Page by nicolettart
  • Take some time to study the sculpture and wooden relief on the altar. The ten large wooden statues were created by Henri Bouriche. At the top, you will see the patron saint of the church, Mary, being crowned by her Son, Jesus. Upon entering the church, many people gasp at the sight of the main altar, which is lit up in shades of blue.

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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame~Windows
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  • nicolettart
  • Updated By nicolettart on January 20, 2004
  • Montreal Page by nicolettart
  • Basilica/Church - Montreal
    by nicolettart
    For a hundred years, Notre Dame was without stained glass windows. For the church's centennial in 1929, Olivier Maurault, the parish priest, decided on the themes and characters fo be depicted in a series of 11 stained glass windows relating the main events in the religious history of Montreal, from the arrival of Jacques Cartier in 1535 to the opening of Notre dame in 1829.

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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame~Tower
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  • nicolettart
  • Updated By nicolettart on January 20, 2004
  • Montreal Page by nicolettart
  • Basilica/Church - Montreal
    by nicolettart
    Notre Dame's two towers are called "Perseverance" and "Temperance". "Perseverance" holds one of the world's most famous bells, manufactured by the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in England, it weighs 10,900 kilograms. It is known as the Jean-Baptiste Bell.

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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame~Entrance Fee
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  • nicolettart
  • Updated By nicolettart on January 20, 2004
  • Montreal Page by nicolettart
  • Basilica/Church - Montreal
    by nicolettart
    There is a fee to enter the basilca, surprisingly. I believe it was around 2 or 3 dollars. Next door is a gift shop where I picked up a booklet and a postcard. If you are interested in the interior of the basilica, I strongly recommend buying some postcards, as I found it difficult to take good (digital) pictures inside!

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    Basilica/Church: Notre Dame~Pulpit Statues
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  • nicolettart
  • Updated By nicolettart on January 19, 2004
  • Montreal Page by nicolettart
  • Basilica/Church - Montreal
    by nicolettart
    This is one of the most impressive things in the basilica! It is 14 meters high, with sculptures of the prophets Ezekiel and Jeremiah at the base. The initial plan called for four prophets to be at the base~~the prophets Daniel and Isaiah can be found at either side of the high altar.

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