Notre Dame Basilica
If you appreciate beautiful historical buildings and architecture the Basilica of Notre-Dame is a must see
One of Montreal's most impressive historical sites is the Basilica of Notre-Dame. Referred to as a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture, both the outside and inside of the Basilica are displays of architectural ingenuity.
The Basilica built between 1824-1829 is the work of James O'Donnell an architect from New York and then later (1870-1900) Cure' Victor Rousselot and Victor Bourgeau. When standing outside the Basilica looking up you will see the twin towers looming over you in all their majesty. The western tower is called 'Perseverance' and the eastern tower called 'Temperance'. Each tower is home to the church bells of the Basilica. Perseverance houses the great bell nick-named 'Jean- Baptiste' whilst Temperance houses 10 smaller bells.
The inside of the Basilica is impressive with stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings, sculptures, statues and paintings. But what is even more impressive are the fine details which have gone into creating the Gothic style of the church. The columns, the organ, the church pews, the banisters, the pulpit and the altarpiece are all meticulously and beautifully crafted. The use of rich colours makes one feel as if you are in a spring garden or in some heavenly realm. At night time you can also experience a sound and light show within the Basilica which is bound to make your experience even more so memorable.
In addition to the sound and light show, the Basilica of Notre-Dame also hosts many concerts by various orchestras and other music groups. Admission to these concerts does vary from the admission to the actual Basilica, so be sure to check the website for more details on admission for the concerts. In order to be able to truly experience the majesty of a service at the Basilica, one must attend one of the religious events held there. The traditional organ is played and a traditional church choir leads the worship.
To get a true sense of the history of Montreal you have to visit the basilica for what would a visit to a French city in Canada be without a visit to its Sacré-Cœur.
Facts For Your Visit
Official Website: Notre Dame Basilica
Fee: Various admission fees apply, see the website for the full fee schedule.Regular Hours:
May differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:30 PM
- Saturday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
- Sunday: 12:30 – 4:00 PM
Address: 110 R. Notre Dame O, Montréal, QC H2Y 1T1, Canada
Phone: (514) 842-2925
Official Website: Notre Dame Basilica
Reviews
Rated out of 5
This is a little bit of Europe right at home in Canada.. was honestly very impressed with how nice and ornate it was, definitely has the same or better grandeur than most European basilicas. The craftsmanship is incredible. Also they have quite clean and functional bathrooms which is a nice touch. There are some areas that are prayer only so photos should be avoided, and take off hats out of respect. I also lost my wallet inside somewhere.. came back and asked.. they didn't know.. so I went searching and eventually one of the people working there came running for me and they found it! I was and am so genuinely thankful and grateful. My only constructive criticisms are that for $15 per person the amount you get to see seemed limited.. it would be incredible if you could access upper levels. Also the gift shop was inexplicably closed which was sad!
Nick Fuss - 1 month ago
This is a little bit of Europe right at home in Canada.. was honestly very impressed with how nice and ornate it was, definitely has the same or better grandeur than most European basilicas. The craftsmanship is incredible. Also they have quite clean and functional bathrooms which is a nice touch. There are some areas that are prayer only so photos should be avoided, and take off hats out of respect.
I also lost my wallet inside somewhere.. came back and asked.. they didn't know.. so I went searching and eventually one of the people working there came running for me and they found it! I was and am so genuinely thankful and grateful.
My only constructive criticisms are that for $15 per person the amount you get to see seemed limited.. it would be incredible if you could access upper levels. Also the gift shop was inexplicably closed which was sad!
Elly Grabner - 3 days ago
Armin Keymaram - 1 month ago
Amazing, gorgeous, and historic piece of architecture that is a must-see for tourists visiting Montreal. I will say, it's a bit of a tourist trap as it was fairly expensive and not much to see as part was under construction and I'm not even entirely sure if they let you off the ground floor even when it's not being worked on. Despite this, due to the historic nature and captivating beauty, I would still recommend it, but don't expect to spend much more than a half hour unless youre paying for a guided tour or some other perk package.
Paul Verrilli - 1 month ago
Amazing, gorgeous, and historic piece of architecture that is a must-see for tourists visiting Montreal. I will say, it's a bit of a tourist trap as it was fairly expensive and not much to see as part was under construction and I'm not even entirely sure if they let you off the ground floor even when it's not being worked on. Despite this, due to the historic nature and captivating beauty, I would still recommend it, but don't expect to spend much more than a half hour unless youre paying for a guided tour or some other perk package.
snehal ganeshkar - 14 days ago
Accommodations near Notre Dame Basilica:
Directions
| Metro Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Line 2 - Orange | Place-d'Armes | 4 Minutes |
How to get to Notre Dame Basilica by Metro
By Metro: Take Metro Line 2 to Place-d'Armes; exit and go right (south) on St. Urbain Street. You will see the Basilica straight ahead as you approach.
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Photo Gallery
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Some of the incrediblily beautiful details inside Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica cc licensed photo by Ryan Hyde -
Photo Credit: Nick Fewings 5 Million Views - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Gunn Shots ! - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: kasio69 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Joe Passe - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: szeke - cc license via Flickr
