Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum
A magnificent old chapel, a museum and an archaeological site all in one, there is much to explore at Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Montreal has not just one, but two Notre-Dame churches, both located in Old Montreal. The Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel is a magnificent building, both inside and out.
The chapel that is currently on the site was built in 1771 which is very old by North American standards. It replaced the original Chapel which was completed in 1678 but later, with the exception of the stature and the reliquary, was destroyed by a fire in 1754.
Located on the Saint Lawrence River the chapel was a popular place of worship and prayer for sailors who came into the port and thus became widely known as the sailor's church. Replicas of sailing ships hang from the ceiling as a reminder of this heritage. Speaking of the ceiling, it, along with the rest of the interior, are nothing short of spectacular.
A visit to the chapel would not be complete without also visiting the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum located within. Marguerite Bourgeoys who lived in the 17th century was the first teacher in Montreal and it was her who founded the original Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel. The museum features a collection of art and artifacts that highlight the culture and history surrounding the chapel and its founder.
A bonus to visiting the museum is the opportunity to go up into the chapel tower which will afford you an excellent view of the Old Port of Montreal and the Saint Lawrence river.
But wait - there is even more to this interesting site! Below the floor of the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours is a remarkable archaeological site that was unearthed in 1996-1997 that unearthed not only the foundations of the original chapel and evidence of the fire, but also native artifacts dating back more than 2400 years; fascinating stuff indeed.
You can also inquire if there is an expert guide available to explore the museum with you in person. When available, there is no additional charge for this service.
Note that the museum is closed from the middle of January through April 30th except for prearranged group tours.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: YesNotre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Thursday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Friday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Address: 400 Rue Saint-Paul E, Montréal, QC H2Y 1H4, Canada
Phone: (514) 282-8670
Official Website: Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel Reviews
Rated out of 5
Amazing.
One of the most important and iconic tourist attractions in Montreal.
It is located in front of Place d’Armes.
It was built more than 300 years ago and has a very rich religious collection inside.
You need to pay to visit inside.
Tip: There is a "hidden" beautiful place, just behind the main attraction, beside the wash rooms.
Eduardo Barroso Ferreira - 3 months ago
Beautiful Church with history and the museum on the upper floor and the historical vault inside the basement. You need to buy tickets to see the museum and the vault. The surrounding area is so beautiful as well.
Harendra Dharmawanse - 2 months ago
What a gem! It’s a beautiful church and museum. It’s free to see the church; the museum does cost. The museum is worth the money. They do a fantastic job of telling the story of Marguerite Bourgeoys. She was an amazing woman. If you climb to the top of the church, you get a fantastic view of the river and the city. They had an adorable Noah’s Ark exhibit by Claude Lafortune. It’s all made of paper.
Sunshine - 5 months ago
Absolutely beautiful. We went on the 1st Sunday of the month to enjoy the free museum
Dayzu Anzaldo - 5 months ago
Where: Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel - Montreal, Quebec
What: A small Chapel in the Old Port.
How was it: This Chapel is really cute. It's really small and charming inside. You can light candles as opposed to the new electric version. It's rarely open when we are nearby, but when it is we try to go inside for some minutes.
Grade: Eli = 5, Serge = 5
Recommend: Yeah, the structure on the outside is nice and the inside is really charming.
Considered one of the oldest, if not the oldest chapel in Montreal. What’s really cool is upon entrance. There is a greeter that will instruct you on what you can do inside the church. That said if you are there for prayer, it may be distracting as there is constantly someone talking. However, the interesting part is , listening to the chapels history. You can take time and speak with the main greeter at the entrance as they are full of knowledge about the church and its history. Moreover, we highly recommend that you go and visit the museum off to the side for the interior, decor, architecture, and amazing old port views..
Discovering Destinations - 3 weeks ago
Directions
| Metro Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Line 2 - Orange | Champ-de-Mars | 5 Minutes |
How to get to Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel by Metro
By Metro: Make your way to Champ-de-Mars Metro Station on Line 2 and take the Saint_Antoine Sud (South) exit. Walk to your right (south) along Rue Gosford to Rue Saint Paul and turn to your left. The chapel is on the right hand side just beyond Bonsecour Market.
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Photo Gallery
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Looking towards Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours and Bonsecours Market from Rue St-Paul cc licensed photo by Yuri Long -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: archer10 (Dennis) - cc license via Flickr
