Oratoire St Joseph
A Mini Pilgrimage to the Oratoire St Joseph du Mont-Royal
What a majestic sight the Saint Joseph's Oratory of Mount Royal is, as it towers over plush and meticulously kept gardens. The long road which leads one towards the entrance allows one ample time to reflect on the churches beauty as you make your way towards its front entrance. Before reaching the entrance however you will need to climb more than 280 steps! This can be seen as a mini pilgrimage so be sure to wear the proper shoes on your visit to the basilica if you have any intention of going inside.
The architectural style used is that of Italian renaissance complete with a dome, the 'cupola' as is typically seen in the basilica's of Italy. In fact the dome is the second largest dome in the world, the first being Saint Peter's basilica in Rome. The height of the dome is 236 meters. A variety of architects were involved in the construction and design of the church. The most notable of those were Paul Bellot, Dalbé Viau, Lucien Parent, and Alphonse Venne.
The Saint Joseph's Oratory which is situated on Mount Royal is the largest church in Canada, seating 2,400 people with a maximum capacity of 10,000 people. The height of the church towers 129 metres and the length 105 metres.
Construction of the church began in 1904 by Saint Andre' Bessette, C.S.C, however, it was a small chapel at that time, nothing in comparison to the basilica which you will see as it stands today. The church was later enlarged to accommodate for the growing congregation and this is when it was turned into a basilica. With all the expansion and alterations the basilica was finally finished in 1967.
The church was featured on a 49c stamp issued by the Canadian Post in April of 2004. The stamp was designed by Catherine Bradbury and William Stewart. Their design was based on photography of the church done by Bernard Brault.
During your visit to Saint Joseph's Oratory you will not only enjoy the beautiful gardens and lawn that lead up to it, or the magificent architecture itself; for a very small fee, you can also explore the Oratory Museum which is open daily from 11am - 4:30pm and during July and August you can participate in a fully guided tour, also for a small fee. If you get hungry during your visit you can enjoy a breakfast or light lunch along with some great views at the cafeteria.
If you would like to experience a truly Roman Catholic Church service in the largest church in Canada with the atmosphere of reverence that comes with it, then this is definitely a place to visit. If you are simply a fan of renaissance architecture, you will also want to add this to your list of places to see in Montreal.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: There is a small fee to visit the Oratory Museum or to participate in one of the guided tours that are available during July and August. See the offical website for more information.Oratoire St Joseph Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Tuesday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Wednesday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Thursday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Friday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Sunday: 6:30 AM – 9:00 PM
Address: 3800 Chem. Queen Mary, Montréal, QC H3V 1H6, Canada
Phone: (514) 733-8211
Official Website: Oratoire St Joseph
Oratoire St Joseph Reviews
Rated out of 5
The church located at hill point. Very huge building structure. When we stand in front of church balcony, seen around awesome view from the church. I think this is the tallest church in Canada. Interior of the church nice architecture with coloured glazing long windows. So many floors here. Lot of shops and food court are here. Brother Andre heart preservation in fourth floor.
Kanagarethinam Kulandaisamy - a week ago
A must visit if you’re in Montreal! Quant and peaceful with stellar architecture. There was a construction up front so we had to walk a bit to get there, but even the walk was so beautiful. Plus, the deck has an amazing view for photographs. Definitely one of my favourite spots from my visit to the city. Highly recommended!
Antara Dey - 2 months ago
Absolutely a must visit place. The church upstairs was stunning and gorgeous. As well as the below church where you can feel the time and have prayers with candles. The view was amazing from the top.
Sourav Saha (Sam) - a month ago
For those who are religious, it is a place of great faith, extremely beautiful and calm. Its churches are well maintained and beautiful.
And for the non-religious, it is still worth knowing due to the monumental architecture of this place. It has a beautiful garden to visit in other seasons other than winter.
Leandro Wanderley Couto da Silva - 3 months ago
I visited Saint Joseph’s Oratory this weekend. This place is an amalgamation of architecture, tranquility and history. The city view from the top of the Oratory is fantastic and inside there are two churches at different floors, both has a unique view and design. During winter you can take free shuttle services from the gate because it’s bit difficult to walk on a steep road especially when it is windy and snowy.
Shikha Singh - 2 months ago
Directions
| Metro Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Line 5 - Blue | Côte-des-Neiges | 8 Minutes |
How to get to Oratoire St Joseph by Metro
By Metro: Take Metro LIne 5 to Station Côte-des-Neiges; exit to your right (south) along Côte-des-Neiges Road then go right on Queen Mary Road to the entrance.
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Photo Gallery
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View from St Joseph's Oratory cc licensed photo by Eduardo Zárate -
Photo Credit: Andrew-1 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: marsupilami92 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Joe Passe - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: quinet - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: A Disappearing Act - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: A Disappearing Act - cc license via Flickr
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