Data Point related to: ELEMENT
Notre-Dame Basilica Montreal
Notre-Dame Basilica (French: Basilique Notre-Dame) is a Catholic minor basilica located in the historic Old Montreal district of Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Situated at 110 Notre-Dame Street West, at the corner of Saint Sulpice Street, it is adjacent to the Saint-Sulpice Seminary and overlooks Place d'Armes square.
The basilica is renowned for its dramatic interior, a Gothic Revival masterpiece. The ceiling is a deep blue adorned with golden stars, while the sanctuary features rich colors—blues, reds, purples, silver, and gold—alongside hundreds of intricate wooden carvings and religious statues. Unlike traditional church stained glass, the windows here depict scenes from Montreal's religious history. A standout feature is the 1891 Casavant Frères pipe organ, with 7,000 pipes, four keyboards, and 99 stops.
The Sulpicians, a Roman Catholic order, arrived in Montreal (then Ville-Marie) in 1657, and by 1672 had built the original parish church, dedicated to the Holy Name of Mary. By 1824, the congregation outgrew the church, leading to the commissioning of a new design by James O'Donnell, an Irish-American Anglican. O'Donnell, a proponent of the Gothic Revival style, converted to Catholicism on his deathbed and is the only person buried in the church’s crypt. The new basilica's construction took place between 1824 and 1829, with the towers completed in the 1840s. When finished, it was the largest church in North America.
Throughout its history, Notre-Dame has undergone various modifications. Notably, the interior was redesigned by Victor Bourgeau in the 1870s, drawing inspiration from Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. A more intimate chapel, Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur, was added in 1888 but was later destroyed by arson in 1978. The chapel was rebuilt, blending traditional and modern elements, including an impressive bronze altarpiece by Quebec sculptor Charles Daudelin.
The basilica has hosted many significant events, including state funerals for notable figures such as former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and hockey legend Maurice 'Rocket' Richard. It was also the setting for Celine Dion’s wedding to René Angélil in 1994 and Angélil's funeral in 2016. Additionally, the basilica welcomed a display of Napoleon Bonaparte’s artifacts in 2014 and accepted donations in 2019 to support the reconstruction of Notre-Dame de Paris after its devastating fire.
With around 11 million annual visitors, Notre-Dame Basilica is one of North America's most visited monuments. In 2023, it was named the 6th most beautiful building in the world by Angi, a home service publication that ranked Notre-Dame de Paris second and Barcelona's Sagrada Família first.
In 1982, Pope John Paul II elevated Notre-Dame to the status of a minor basilica. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1989, further cementing its role as a cultural and architectural icon.
Type of Data Point - Basic Data Point - Source Wikipedia
Notre-Dame Basilica (Montreal) - Wikipedia
Visit page of the element - Notre-Dame Basilica Montreal
Inserted: 19-10-2024 23:10:04
Questions related to this Data Point
How did Victor Bourgeau influence the interior design of Notre-Dame Basilica?
How does Notre-Dame Basilica's stained glass differ from traditional churches?
How has Notre-Dame Basilica contributed to Montreal's cultural history through events?
What architectural style is Notre-Dame Basilica known for?
What distinguishes the Casavant Frères organ in Notre-Dame Basilica from others?
What factors led to Notre-Dame Basilica being named a National Historic Site of Canada?
What impact has Notre-Dame Basilica had on North America's tourism and heritage?
What is the significance of James O'Donnell's contribution to Notre-Dame Basilica?
Why was the Chapelle du Sacré-Cœur rebuilt in Notre-Dame Basilica?
Contexts related to this Data Point
Architecture in the city
Historical buildings
Map of Montreal
Map of Quebec
Religious buildings in Canada
Entities related to this Data Point
No Entities found
Dates/Years/Periods related to this Data Point
Image Gallery
Credits: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Other Data Points
Since 1949, the Library has been dedicated to serving residents and has been situated in its current spot on the second floor of the Centre Square Mall since October 1990. The library passio ...
On July 25, in Chai village near Macomia city within Mozambique's Cabo Delgado province, militants aligned with the Islamic State took the lives of two civilians. Subsequently, ...
Banpo Hangang Park, a prominent landmark in Seoul, is famed for its captivating Moonlight Rainbow Fountain, recognized as the world’s longest bridge fountain. This marvel achieved a Guinness ...
The urban area of Phoenice, has been surrounded by higher walls that follow the slopes of the hill with obvious ups and downs with straight angles and shaped curved strongholds, presenting a ...
The BBC Travel article titled 'London's Blackstock Road: The world in a street' explores the diverse and multicultural nature of Blackstock Road, a bustling street in north London. The autho ...
