A visit to Vieux-Montréal and the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
The site of the original city of Montreal, Vieux-Montréal is the center of the city's culture. The beautiful 18th-century European-style buildings now house small museums, popular boutiques, and souvenir shops, and horse-drawn carriages rolling down cobblestone and brick streets now transport tourists. Strolling here takes you past such notable sights as the Basilique Notre-Dame, the Hôtel de Ville/Town Hall/, the Vieux-Port/Old Port, as well as the Marché Bonsecours/Bonsecours Market. Here, visitors mingle with locals at sidewalk cafes overlooking the river and at bars and clubs after dark, and everyone enjoys the summertime street performers at Place Jacques-Cartier.
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| grand old building in Vieux-Montréal, Canada |
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| horse-drawn carriages waiting for a fare in Vieux-Montréal, Canada |
110 Notre-Dame Street West, in Vieux-Montréal, (514) 842-2925. M-F 8am-4:30pm, Sat 8am-4pm, Sun 12:30-4pm. Can$8, 7-17 $5; 20-min. guided tour included.
Looking quite simple from the street, as is the wont of so many grand cathedrals, Canada’s first Gothic Revival church seats 3,500 people. Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal has two bell towers--one holds a 10-bell carillon and the other an 11-ton bell. This grand basilica is dedicated to Our Lady Mary, and the interior sanctuary and altarpiece are strikingly gorgeous with a deep blue background and highly ornate gothic façade. Detailed carved figures surround the masterpiece black walnut pulpit, and an impressive 7,000-pipe organ perches above the entrance. Elaborate stained-glass windows made in Limoges, France, depict the history of Montreal’s founding.
The little
Notre-Dame du Sacre-Coeur chapel behind the sanctuary was rebuilt after a fire in 1978. It displays a huge, 32-panel bronze altarpiece that was cast in England and holds a 1,648-pipe organ. This is where Céline Dion famously married her now-deceased husband.
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| exterior of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal in Vieux-Montréal, Canada |
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| interior of Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal in Vieux-Montréal, Canada |
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| pulpit in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal in Vieux-Montréal, Canada |
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7,000-pipe organ in Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
in Vieux-Montréal, Canada |
More things to do in Montreal.
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images ©2019 Carole Terwilliger Meyers
I visited Montreal for the first time when I was about 5 or 6 years old. I remember being captivated by the city even then. Can't remember if we visited the basilica then and I know I haven't since. But it sure looks gorgeous and interesting!
ReplyDeleteGosh the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal in Vieux-Montréal in Canada looks absolutely beautiful. I'd certainly love to visit Montreal and see this and much more!
ReplyDeleteIt's been years since I visited Montreal, but I did go to the Basilica on one visit. it is impressive.
ReplyDeleteCarole, thanks for this look inside of one of Montreal's top visitors spots. We are making our first Canadian blogging trip to Quebec City in September. Your images make us eager to see more of our neighbor up north.
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