Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel
Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum

Map & Directions
Photos & Video

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

Beautiful picture of Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours at night cc licensed photo by Jazmin Million

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. Be sure to click on this link to see a stunning interactive 360° view of the interior of this magnificent chapel.

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: Yes

Address: 400 Rue Saint Paul Est, Montréal, QC H2Y 1H4, Canada

Phone: (514) 282-8670

Official Website: Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel | Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum

Map of nearby accommodations: Booking.com

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 | Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum 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.

Map & Instant Route Finder

Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.

Load Street View

Load Interactive Map

Finding Your Route - Please Wait

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel Star Rating

Awesome place to visit. Well organized for visitors. A top in town.

Stephan Soilleux - 1 month ago

A truly magical place that should ALWAYS be free to enter, not just free museum day in May. I love climbing the stairs and going onto the watch tower. The inside is wonderful and has many different rooms and sections, each with its own theme. A truly gorgeous building.

Patrick M - 1 month ago

I had never thought of it before, but the Little Drummer Boy, a Christmas Song with a rump a tum tum, does sound like the Bolero, a brass composition by Maurice Ravel. Today, in the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours, a choir explored that similarity as the brass section performed the Bolero and the choir sang the Little Drummer Boy. So, did Maurice Ravel attend a Christmas Choir and hear the Rumpa Tum Tum and get inspired? I pondered just this as the choir and the trumpet and a trombone pulled off the mashup. It's a magnificent conductor who can conduct men and women from all walks of life into a choir. I'll have to look up his name because this choir master knew how to turn to the audience and hush us, make us hold our applause. He even demanded, with men and women standing up to sing, that we sing out a carol before he allowed his chorus to sing it. And we loved it. Was this a concert or an audition? We didn't demand an encore. He merely waved his arms and we returned to our seats for a moving rendition of the Battle of the Republic, translated to French. Julia Ward Howe's lyrics brought to voices full and rich made a stirring encore, sung in a town that never saw a battle of the American Civil War. Ah, but I've read the plaques that tell of insurrections posted on the limestone blocks of the maisons of Old Montreal. However, it is clear that the preservation of this chapelle proves that truth has marched on. The afternoon passed well. Now to plan the evening.

Will Juntunen - 2 months ago

Beautiful church and you can take a tour through the church and learn about the saint buried there. There is also some catacombs.

Ashley Stearns - 2 months ago

Wonderful place to visit. It’s very historic place and you could hear someone is playing an organ. There’s a museum to visit. Along the street, there are some unique shops (Auberge Restaurant) has been closed —red painted wall & door on the wall which makes a good place to take a picture.

Angelina K - 6 months ago

Read all Reviews Powered by Google Logo

Photo Gallery

Looking towards Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours and Bonsecours Market from Rue St-Paul cc licensed photo by Yuri Long
Montreal 2015 676 cc licensed photo by jasonlsraia
Montreal 2015 705 cc licensed photo by jasonlsraia
Montreal 2015 691 cc licensed photo by jasonlsraia
Montreal 2015 674 cc licensed photo by jasonlsraia
Montreal 2015 675 cc licensed photo by jasonlsraia