🇨🇦✨ Montreal Must-See: Notre-Dame Basilica ✨⛪️

📍Address: 110 Notre-Dame St W, Montreal, QC H2Y 1T1 ⏰Opening Hours: Mon–Sun 9:00 AM–4:30 PM (may vary by season) 🎫Admission: Adult $16.5 CAD | Light Show Combo: $32.5 CAD 🌟 Historical Background • Built between 1824–1829 in Gothic Revival style, designed by Irish architect James O’Donnell (the only person buried in the crypt). • Canada’s first Gothic Revival church. Elevated to a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1982. • Damaged by electrical fires in 1978 and 2019; reopened in 2022 after restoration. 🏛️ Architecture & Art Highlights 1️⃣ Striking Exterior ◦ Twin towers: “Perseverance” (69m) and “Temperance” (68m)—rare asymmetric design. ◦ Rose window and saint statues above the main entrance. 2️⃣ Opulent Interior ◦ Blue star-filled vault: Gold-leafed dark blue ceiling symbolizing the night sky. ◦ Stained-glass windows: 78 windows depicting Montreal’s religious history (not typical Biblical stories!). ◦ Casavant organ: 7,000 pipes, played during Sunday mass. ◦ Carved altar and pulpit: Gilded wood telling the life of Jesus. 🎭 Special Experiences 1️⃣ AURA Light Show 🎇 ◦ 45-min immersive projection and music experience. Best at 7 PM! ◦ Book online in advance—fewer shows in winter. 2️⃣ Religious Services & Concerts ◦ Free attendance at mass (French/English), silence required. ◦ Classical concerts like Handel’s “Messiah” during Christmas. 📌 Visit Tips Best time: Arrive at 9 AM for fewer crowds and beautiful light through stained glass. Photos: Non-commercial photography allowed (no flash/tripods). Nearby: Place d’Armes Square (2-min walk, perfect photo spot). Old Seminary (oldest building in Montreal, next door). #Montreal #UNESCOCity #MontrealAttractions #NotreDameBasilica #HistoricArchitecture #ArtAndArchitecture #CanadaTravel #ExploreMontreal 🌟📸