Blue ceiling
Gold stars.
Annie Spratt — CC0 · Jeangagnon — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK — CC BY 2.0 · Garon Baxter — CC BY-SA 4.0
Montreal's most famous church and one of the most beautiful religious buildings in North America, a Gothic Revival basilica built between 1824 and 1829 on Place d'Armes in the heart of the old city, with twin towers overlooking the square. It was designed by the Irish-American architect James O'Donnell, who is said to have converted to Catholicism shortly before his death and is buried in its crypt. What most amazes visitors inside is the deep blue ceiling studded with gold stars, the finely hand-carved woodwork and the light that floods the altar. Its stained glass windows show not biblical scenes as in most churches but events from Montreal's religious and social history. It has a huge organ built in 1891 with thousands of pipes. In the evening it hosts the AURA light and music show. The daytime visit is C$16 per adult before tax and the evening AURA show C$37, per the official site. The church is an active place of worship and may close to tourists during services and events; modest dress is required.
Gold stars.
City history.
Light and music.
110 Notre-Dame Street West, Place d'Armes, Old Montreal
C$16 per adult before tax by day, and C$37 for the evening AURA show.
