My name is Amy from www.templeseeker.com, the popular travel blog focusing on cultural, historical and religious sites. Today, I’m excited to bring to you the most amazing Churches of Montreal. On my recent trip to Canada, my main goal was to attend TBEX in Quebec City, which, if you didn’t already know, is the Travel Bloggers Exchange conference. It was a great opportunity to do a stop-off in Montreal, to see what the city had to offer in the way of Church architecture. Some of the most amazing Churches in Montreal include the Notre-Dame Basilica, Saint Joseph’s Oratory and the Marie Reine du Monde Cathedral. In my opinion, these are the three that you simply must not miss! I’m so excited to share what I discovered!
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Montreal – City of 400 Spires
My flight was from London to Montreal, and I was thrilled to hear that Montreal is known as the city of 400 spires, due to so many Churches that have been built during the time that the city was dominated by Catholic French settlement. Pretty much as soon as I landed in Montreal, I couldn’t wait to start exploring. I also had to stay awake so that jet lag didn’t set in!
Gothic Revival Style and Beyond
The predominant architectural style for the Churches of Montreal is Gothic Revival, also referred to as Neo-Gothic. It is characterised by pointed arches, ribbed-vaults and beautiful stained glass windows, and was the popular style in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal is a fine example of this style. The style was influenced by a rejuvenated interest in medieval architecture, and was found in Catholic Churches, but also in Churches of other denominations and even other public buildings such as schools and cultural centers.
As well as the Gothic Revival architecture of Montreal, you can also find examples of Romanesque Revival, Neo-classical and other unique styles which are sometimes a mixture of more than one architectural style. Yes, Montreal really is an architecture-buff’s treat!
Redundant Churches repurposed in Montreal
I stayed in Hotel Saint Denis, on Rue de Saint Denis in Montreal, and headed straight to the Latin Quarter on my First Evening. I saw a gorgeous Church front near the University, which I hoped would be open, it was….but to my surprise, the back of the Church became one of the actual University buildings! I then walked further down Rue de Saint Denis to discover a Church front that became a hospital (CHUM) at the back!
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Now, of course, it’s sad to think of the declining population, but secularisation (the dominance of non-religious perspectives of the decline of the Church), has happened in many parts of the world, including Canada and UK. What is most impressive about Montreal and the preservation of the beautiful Church architecture is the way that they have made use of the beautiful Church facades, and incorporated them into everyday modern buildings. I’d much rather this happen, than see them become derelict and in a state of disrepair.
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
Jump on the Montreal Metro to Place-d’Armes station, where it is a short 5-10 minute walk to the Basilica. The Basilica of Montreal is unmissable, and although you have to pay to get in ($16 CAD and $10 CAD for children), it is well worth it. If you want to skip the queue, you can book online and then just show your QR code. I would recommend that you get there very early to do your photography, as it can get quite busy, especially in peak tourist season (June-September).
Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal – the resemblance of Saint Chapelle
The Notre-Dame Basilica is actually the place where Celine Dion got married (remember that spectacular head-dress in the 90’s?!). The Basilica was built between 1824 and 1829 in a Gothic Revival style (Neo-Gothic), with an extensive copper roof. Inside, you will be blown away by it’s beauty. The striking blue interior strongly resembles Saint Chapelle, one of the most amazing Churches in Paris, if you’ve ever been.
The Stained Glass windows of Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal
Another unique thing to look out for at Notre-Dame Basilica is the stained glass windows. Wouldn’t you expect them to contain images of Saints, or stories of the life of Christ? Well, look carefully! Interestingly, some of the stained glass windows in Montreal depict the religious history of Montreal, rather than the traditional expected biblical scenes.
They showcase the city’s evolution from a French outpost to a religious center, including figures like Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys (a French religious sister and founder of the Congregation of Notre Dame of Montreal in the colony of New France, now part of Québec) and the Sulpicians (a society of apostolic life of Pontifical Right for men, named after the Church of Saint-Sulpice in Paris).
One more thing – Don’t miss the pug and the poodle!
Now this may sound strange, but don’t miss the pug and the poodle statues on the main square in front of the Basilica. There is a bronze statue of an Englishman with a pug in one corner, and a French woman with a poodle in the other. It’s there to emphasise the cultural differences between the French and the English Canadians!
Saint Joseph’s Oratory
The Oratory of Saint Joseph on Mount-Royal is unmissable. This is the largest shrine dedicated to Joseph, Jesus’ earthly father, in the entire world. It boasts a dome of 97 metres high from the floor of the nave, and 39 metres in diameter. You can get there by Metro to Côte-des-Neiges (or Snowdon for a slightly longer walk) and I recommend that you plan to spend at least 3 hours at the Oratory. Here’s why…
More than just a Church – 6 Floors of shrines and Museums to Explore
Saint Joseph’s Oratory is not just one Church. It’s actually 6 floors in total, with a votive chapel, crypt church, main shrine, original chapel, black marble tomb of Brother André Bessette and several museum exhibitions. Look out for the 1000 canes and walking sticks left by pilgrims who have allegedly been healed by their visit. And that’s not all!
Jardin du Chemin de la Croix
There’s also a garden of the cross (Jardin du Chemin de la Croix) which contains stone statues replicating every station of the cross, with the route ending at the beautiful redemption pool and fountain. The Oratory is fantastic to visit all year round, but spring is the best time to enjoy the gardens, when the flowers are in bloom.
Free to enter as a place of Pilgrimage
As it’s a place of pilgrimage, Saint Joseph’s oratory is free to get in. Look out for the pilgrims going up the 99 wooden steps on their knees from the bottom! There is also no need to worry about accessibility for the different floors, because they are well served by escalators and lifts.
Marie Reine du Monde Cathedral
On my last day in Montreal, I headed to Dorchester Square, to start my open top bus tour, only to be greeted by the fabulous Marie Reine du Monde Cathedral. This translates to: Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral.
A design based on Saint Peter’s in the Vatican
Its design is based on Saint Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican. This Cathedral is of great importance as it the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Montreal, and it is the largest Church in the province of Quebec. It is open to the public free of charge, and you might want to pay to light a candle or make a donation to the upkeep of the Church.
A final surprise for me – a wedding at Marie Reine du Monde Cathedral
There was one last surprise in store for me during my exploration of the Churches of Montreal. On my way out of the Cathedral it seemed that lots of people were waiting around for a wedding. Just as I descended the Cathedral steps, the bride arrived in a white vintage car. She looked stunning in her floral flowing gown. Sorry, I didn’t get photographs, it just didn’t feel right photobombing someone else’s wedding! But that was the perfect end to the perfect weekend!
Practical Tips for visiting the Churches of Montreal
- Spring (May) and autumn (September and October) are the best times to visit, as the mid-summer (August) is far too hot and winter is freezing with a lot of snow. Although Christmas is lovely if you are willing to wrap up, and you will get snow covered domes for stunning photography.
- Get a day pass on the Metro which will work out cheaper and will help you to see all of the Churches listed above (and possibly more!) in just one day.
- However, do plan to spend at least a weekend in Montreal, even 4/5 days, because there is so much to see and do.
- I stayed on Rue de Saint Denis. The Latin Quarter and the village (formerly the gay village) are great places to stay, with many sights walkable.
- Please remember that although open to the public, the Churches are places of worship, not just tourist attractions so please remain silent, switch off flash photography, avoid photos of services and pilgrims and visit the Churches with respect.
- Although many Churches in Canada are free, please make a donation if you are able, which goes to the expensive upkeep costs of the Churches.
- After a long day visiting the Churches of Montreal, why not try your first Poutine? This is a Canadian dish with fries, cheese curds and gravy. A word of warning though, it’s very filling, so you might go for one between two!
If you enjoyed this article and you are interested to hear more about Quebec, check out my article on the old town of Quebec – how to see it in one day.
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