Place d'Armes

Maisonneuve is facing this building, the Basilica of Notre Dame. In 1823, the Sulpicians decided to enlarge the small parish church on this site. They engaged New York architect James O'Donnell (Irish Protestant heritage!) to design the largest church north of Mexico. [Note that the towers don't actually lean in; it's an artifact of the wide angle lens used to fit everything (almost) in.]

This is the Vieux Seminaire de St. Sulpice, the city's oldest building, built by the Sulpicians after they arrived in 1657. The clock, in the centre of the building roof, is believed to be the oldest working clock in North America. It was a gift from Louis XIV in 1701, with a mechanism built of wood. And still ticking.

Inside the Basilica of Notre Dame

Looking down the aisle to the altar of this amazing building. It's rich decorations are wooden! There is room for 5,000 people. Far more information is available at this site.

A closer view of the altar.

By comparison, the pulpit seems almost ordinary. Note that it's located in the middle of the church; this was in the days before amplification, so the priest would be in the middle of the congregation, thus enabling more people to hear (whether they wanted to or not!).

This Casavant organ, at the back of the church, has 5,772 pipes. Apart from religious use, concerts are performed regularly during the year, and especially at Christmas.

This is the Sacred Heart Chapel, behind the altar, and added "only" in 1888. The wood carving is magnificent. It's known as the Wedding Chapel, presumably because it's smaller size is better suited to most weddings. And there's a two year wait to hold a wedding in there.

Old Montreal
Along rue Notre Dame