Showing 1-11 of 11 results
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Cathédrale Marie-Reine-du-Monde
The Cathedral of Mary Queen of the World is a smaller but still magnificent version of St Peter's Basilica in Rome. The architects scaled it down to one-quarter size, mindful of the structural risks of Montréal's severe winters. This landmark was built in 1870-94 as a symbol of Catholic power in the heart of Protestant Montréal.
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Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bonsecours
Known as the Sailors' Church, this enchanting chapel derives its name from the sailors who left behind votive lamps in the shape of ships in thanksgiving for safe passage. The restored interior has inspirational paintings of the Virgin Mary, stained-glass windows depicting stations of her life and a variety of icons including a recumbent statue of Marguerite Bourgeoys.
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Christ Church Cathedral
Modeled on a Salisbury, England, church, Montréal's first Anglican bishop had this cathedral built and it was completed in 1859. This church was the talk of the town in the late 1980's when it allowed a shopping center, the Promenades de la Cathédrale, to be built underneath it. Spectacular photos from 1987 show the house of worship resting on concrete stilts while construction went on underneath.
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Church of St James the Apostle
Built in 1864 on a sports field for the British military, this Anglican church used to be called St Crickets in the Fields for the matches that unfolded here. The stained glass in the east transept, the Regimental Window, was donated in memory of the WWI fallen.
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Église St-Jean-Baptiste
Dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the patron saint of French-Canadians, this church was the hub of working-class Catholic families in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Plateau residents weren't rich but they channeled large sums of money into the colorful interior, especially after two disastrous fires.
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Église St-Pierre-Apôtre
The Church of St Peter the Apostle belonged to the monastery of the Oblate fathers who settled in Montréal in the mid-19th century. The neoclassical church in the Village has fine decorations - flying buttresses, stained glass, statues in Italian marble - but the house of worship is more renowned for its gay-friendly Sunday services. It also houses the Chapel of Hope, the first chapel in the world consecrated to the memory of victims of AIDS.
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Église St-Viateur
If you are already on ave Laurier for the shopping and food, poke your head into this church, opened in 1910. The interior is pure Gothic Revival with ornate paintings, stained glass, hand-crafted cabinets and sculptures by renowned Montréal artists; the impressive ceiling vaults depict the life of St-Viateur. Funeral services for former prime minister Pierre Trudeau were held here in 2000.
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Grand Séminaire De Montréal
The seminary has a pretty Romanesque chapel, with hand-carved oak pews and walls covered with imported stone from Caen, France. Several shaded canals on the property are lovely for a stroll. Tours last about an hour and a half and the guides are excellent.
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Masonic Memorial Temple
This Grand Lodge of Québec is one of the most imposing monuments on rue Sherbrooke, built in 1929 to honor the fallen in WWI. Huge classical columns frame the facade while two mysterious obelisks with dragons and globes guard the entrance. Free guided tours are offered on an irregular basis; check ahead for a worthwhile glimpse into the secretive world of Freemasonry.
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St Michael's & St Anthony's Church
This Byzantine-style church positively dominates its corner of St-Urbain and St-Viateur. Its dome and soaring turret make it one of the more unique examples of church architecture in Montréal. Completed by 1915, it has since mainly served the Irish and Polish Catholic communities.
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Vieux Séminaire de St-Sulpice
The Catholic order of Sulpicians was given title to the entire island of Montréal in 1663. The order built the seminary in 1684 and the 3rd-floor apartments of the old seminary have been occupied ever since. The clock on the facade was a gift from French king Louis XIV in 1701; it is believed to be the oldest working clock in North America. Ancient oaks shade the rear garden laid out in 1715. The seminary and grounds are closed to the public.
Showing 1-11 of 11 results
