The Notre-Dame Basilica

When it opened in 1830, Montreal’s Notre-Dame was the largest church in North America, and it would remain so for fifty years. Today, this French Gothic Revival basilica is one of the top attractions in the city.

In 1640, during the earliest days of the French colony, the Sulpician Order build the first church of Notre-Dame across from the Place d’Armes. But after a couple hundred years, there were far too many worshipers for this small, old church. To reflect its growing power and influence...