At a glance
From the moment you cross the threshold of the basilica, the view is staggering: balconies on either side extend from the back all the way to the front, drawing the eye to the immense altarpiece that ascends to the soaring, vaulted ceiling.
The basilica was built by James O'Donnell, an Irish Protestant architect who converted to Catholicism after settling in Montreal. His drew his inspiration from medieval Gothic architecture
Inaugurated in 1891, the interior was designed in the style of an amphitheatre. A one-metre difference in level allows for a wonderful vantage of the altarpiece, the highlight of the cathedral, from all sides. Above, the blue ceiling with gilt stars symbolises paradise.
Halfway down the central aisle lies the pulpit, with its spiral staircase winding along the 14-metre-long column of the nave.
The altarpiece
A true masterpiece, the carved wooden altarpiece displays The Crucifixion scene in the centre. Below the high altar is a bas-relief of The Last Supper, representing the last meal of Jesus Christ and his apostles before the crucifixion.
At the very top is the Virgin Mary (Our Lady, or Notre Dame), crowned by her son, Christ, who has conquered death through his resurrection. Several other scenes related to the sacrifice of Christ are shown.
Other attractions
A wealth of master paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows that tell the religious history of Montreal can be admired during a visit to the basilica. On either side of the nave are eight open chapels where you may stop to rest.
The Casavant organ is an attraction in itself, with its 7,000 pipes, the largest of which is almost 10-metres high! Its beautiful sound in enhanced by the cathedral’s excellent acoustics, as is demonstrated by choral concerts and performances by the Orchestre symphonique de Montréal.
Key events
A crown jewel in Quebec's rich religious heritage, this Catholic church has been the site of important events throughout the city’s history.
Key moments include the visit of Pope John Paul II to children (1984); the marriage of singer Céline Dion to René Angélil (1994); and the funeral of former Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau (2000).
AURA, a luminous immersion experience
Created by Moment Factory (lighting) and Troublemakers (sound), two innovative and renowned Montréal production studios, AURA is an immersive, multi-sensorial performance that begins in calm darkness. Then the atmosphere suddenly becomes haunting and gripping, with the vaults and the altarpiece bathed in light to a soundtrack of powerful orchestral music. Even if you have visited the basilica during the day, this immersion reveals the depths of its beauty, unveiling otherwise hidden facets of its Gothic Revival architecture and religious works.
Duration: approximately 25 minutes.
Good to know
National historic site
Self-guided tour: 24 stations with points of interest
Admission (service charges extra): $14 for adults, $12 for students aged 17 to 22 years, $9 for children aged 6 to 17 years.
www.basiliquenotredame.ca
