Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal — Attraction in Montreal

Tickets of about $16 CAD are required to visit. Check the website for early closings and mass times. I assume, you could attend mass/church for free. We bought the AURA Experience Combo offer ($48 CAD) which includes the AURA Experience-light show in the evening plus admission to the basilica the same day or another day. You get two separate tickets to scan. You will need to reserve an evening time to see the AURA show when you buy the tickets. It is $40 CAD just for the AURA experience, so it costs $8 instead of $16 to go to the cathedral during the day. After the AURA experience, you want walk around the basilica and see the statues, paintings on the sides but it is dimly lit, so you won't be able to see the paintings as well (it was a little hard to even see them in the daylight) and you won't be able to see the sunlight through the stained glass windows on the side. Since I didn't know we would be able to walk around afterwards, I did the combo ticket but in truth doing just the AURA experience and walking around the basilica afterwards would have been enough. When I went in the day, I did find the bathroom to the left of and behind the altar, go up the ramp to the other room, then down the two flights of stairs and went into the Chapel of St Jude which is on the right when you enter. It felt peaceful in there.

Plan to arrive 30-45 minutes early if you want a good seat, if you get there before the doors open, just stand in line. We had gotten there 30 minutes early and sat on benches outside, but a whole bunch of people arrived and started going inside. I would say the first 3 sections from the altar (as counted using the pillars on the sides as marking points) are the best seats since you will be within the special effects lights projected on the ceiling around around you. Farther back or on the sides, you will not be in the special effects lighting but looking towards them.

You are not allowed to take pictures or video the AURA experience, and there are people who will come and stop you. The statues on the altar are backlit by various colors during the show. I would say the experience is a cross between being immersed in a Disney movie with gold glittering lights swirling around you, colors and special effects moving around you with music to a trippy disco with the laser beams. There was one sequence with crashing waves which with the music may be a little frightening to children (no monsters though).

The AURA experience was about 20 minutes. We entered around 8:40 pm and went directly to find seats. 9:13 pm announcements about no photos or videos then 9:35 pm, the show was over. Overall, it was an interesting, fun experience but I can't say I would do it again or felt closer to God after it.

The basilica is much smaller than the Notre-Dame in Paris, so don't walk in expecting something of that scale. It was pretty with the arches and statues.

There were so many statues and paintings with votive candles where you can use your credit card to make offerings for $10 CAD or more, it felt a bit of a money grab or for sinners to try and charge their way for heavenly intercession. I remember when lighting a candle used to be more donation based. I guess they don't want thousands of tourists lighting...

The Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal (Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal) is a landmark of profound historical, architectural, and cultural significance, situated in the heart of Old Montreal at 110 Notre-Dame Street West, facing Place d’Armes.

🏛️ Historical Significance

Established between 1824 and 1829, the basilica was commissioned by the Sulpician Order to accommodate Montreal's growing Catholic population. Designed by Irish-American architect James O’Donnell, it holds the distinction of being Canada’s first major Gothic Revival church. Upon its completion, it was the largest church in North America, capable of seating over 8,000 congregants. In 1982, Pope John Paul II elevated it to the status of a minor basilica, and in 1989, it was designated a National Historic Site of Canada, underscoring its importance in the nation's religious and architectural heritage.

🎨 Architectural Highlights

Exterior: The basilica's façade features twin towers, reminiscent of Notre-Dame de Paris, constructed from locally sourced stone from Griffintown.

Interior: The sanctuary is renowned for its vibrant polychrome decoration, including deep blue vaulted ceilings adorned with golden stars, intricate wooden carvings, and stained-glass windows that depict scenes from Montreal's religious history rather than traditional biblical narratives.

Altarpiece: A focal point of the interior is the elaborate altarpiece designed by architect Victor Bourgeau between 1872 and 1880, which presents a "theological lesson" on the Eucharist, featuring a high relief of the Last Supper and the Crucifixion.

Organ: The basilica houses a grand Casavant Frères pipe organ, installed in 1891, comprising four keyboards, 92 electropneumatic action stops, and approximately 7,000 individual pipes, making it one of the most significant organs in North America.

🎭 Cultural and Community Role

Beyond its religious functions, Notre-Dame Basilica serves as a cultural hub:

Concerts and Events: The basilica is renowned for its exceptional acoustics and hosts various musical performances, including the annual presentation of Handel's Messiah.

AURA Experience: Visitors can immerse themselves in the AURA light and sound show, a multimedia experience that highlights the basilica's architectural beauty through dynamic projections and music.

🛠️ Preservation Efforts

Recognizing the basilica's historical and architectural value, major restoration work commenced in 2020, focusing on preserving its stonework, bell towers, and other structural elements to ensure its longevity for future...

Absolutely breathtaking basilica! At least as far as the interior is concerned. The exterior is frankly not the most captivating, it feels a bit unremarkable.

As it is one of the highlights of Montreal, I could not miss stopping by the basilica, however Sunday afternoon visit might not have been the best idea thanks to the enormous amount of people around. I would recommend picking less exposed times. I would also advise purchasing the tickets (yes, this basilica charges 15 CAD to enter) online if the queue to enter is too long. There are QR codes around, which direct you to a website to buy the ticket, however the site is not the most user friendly -  there were too many steps and clicks to make the purchase.

If it was already busy outside, it was even busier inside! It resembled nothing like a peaceful church. The place was crowded, loud and very difficult to move around due to the amount of tourists. Most of them were not following any sorts of rules, like trying to be quiet or being considerate to others. Hence picking the right time for a visit is essential.

Once I stepped inside, though, I was blown away! The interior was absolutely stunning, and I couldn't believe my eyes. The wooden decorations were rich and intricate, but the most interesting part for me was the deep blue color used in the sanctuary and altar vaults. It was so mystical and unlike anything I've seen in a church before. The lighting at the sanctuary was on point as well, beautifully highlighting the right areas and creating a perfect atmosphere. Very unique and unforgettable. I saw information boards advertising for a visual show called AURA - something I regret not doing. It looked impressive!

Despite the crowds and dimmed lighting inside, it is relatively easy to miss other parts of the basilicas such as the beautiful organs with their 7000 pipes or the exquisitely carved pulpit.

Toilets are located behind the altar and despite the amount of visitors, they remained relatively clean. What surprised me a lot was the fact the basilica was air-conditioned. Not that I complain, as it was handy on a hot day, it was just a bit unusual.

Tip: If you want to learn more information about this place, grab a paper pamphlet at the entrance, otherwise you can book a guider tour instead.

Visited on a busy Sunday, July 2023. Paid...