Notre Dame Basilica
Notre-Dame Basilica is a Gothic Revival church in Old Montreal, its sanctuary completed in 1830 and its facade in 1865. The interior is carved wood painted deep blue and gold, and after dark the same space becomes the stage for AURA, a light and sound show produced by Moment Factory.
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6 hrsBest of Montreal Tour
Discover the Best of Montreal Tour with top landmarks, rich history, scenic Mont-Royal views, a relaxing St. Lawrence cruise, and a small-group experience.
5 hrsBest of Montreal Exclusive Private Tour
See the best of Montreal on a 5-hour private tour made for small groups. A local guide will take you around the city and share interesting facts. Enjoy the view from Mont Royal Lookout. Visit St. Joseph’s Oratory, a peaceful and beautiful spot. Relax on a cruise along the St. Lawrence River. Drive through historic places like Golden Square Mile and Old Montreal. This Montreal Private Tour offers skip-the-line access, a local guide, and flexible pacing.
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| Tour | Best of Montreal Tour | Best of Montreal Exclusive Private Tour |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $249 CAD | $1839 CAD |
| Duration | 6 Hours | 5 Hours |
| Book | Check Availability | Check Availability |
Plan Your Visit
Important Information:
What to Bring:
- Nothing required for a daytime visit; the basilica is fully indoors and open to walk through.
- A light layer for AURA in the evening; the building itself isn't heavily heated once the daytime crowds thin out.
About Notre Dame Basilica
Notre-Dame Basilica
Notre-Dame Basilica sits at the center of Old Montreal's Place d'Armes, and its plain grey stone exterior gives almost no hint of what's inside. Step through the doors and the space opens into carved wood painted deep blue and covered in gold stars, lit in a way that has made it one of the most recognizable church interiors in North America. It was designed by James O'Donnell, an Irish-American Anglican architect from New York, and its current interior was largely the work of Quebec architect Victor Bourgeau in the 1870s.
The basilica is still an active parish church, not a museum, and it draws roughly 11 million visitors a year between sightseers, worshippers, and guests at AURA, the nightly light and sound production staged inside it.
✨ Highlights
- The vaulted ceiling, painted deep blue with gold stars, over a Gothic Revival interior carved almost entirely in wood.
- The Casavant Frères pipe organ, installed in 1891, with roughly 7,000 pipes across 99 stops and four keyboards.
- The Sacred Heart Chapel behind the main altar, rebuilt with a bronze altarpiece by Charles Daudelin after a 1978 arson fire.
- AURA, an evening light and sound show by Moment Factory projected onto the basilica's own architecture.
📖 History
Construction began in 1824 to a design by James O'Donnell, with the sanctuary finished in 1830 and the twin-tower facade completed in 1865. Quebec architect Victor Bourgeau redesigned the interior between 1872 and 1879, giving the basilica the blue-and-gold vaulted look it has today. It was named a Minor Basilica in 1982 and designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1989. A major restoration project began in 2020 and is expected to continue for years, funded in part by ticket and event revenue.
📍 How to Get There
Notre-Dame Basilica is at 110 Notre-Dame Street West, Montreal, QC H2Y 1T1, facing Place d'Armes in the heart of Old Montreal, a short walk from the Old Port and Place Jacques-Cartier.
📌 Good to Know
The basilica is an active parish church, so daytime sightseeing access can be limited during Mass and private events. AURA runs on its own evening schedule, separate from daytime visiting hours. [CONFIRM current daytime visiting hours, AURA showtimes, and admission pricing directly with the basilica before publish; those figures are not sourced in this draft.]
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