Notre-Dame Basilica (Montreal)

Notre- Dame de Montréal ( "Our Lady of Montreal" ) is a Roman Catholic basilica in the Canadian city of Montreal. It is located in the Old Town (Vieux -Montreal ) on Rue Notre -Dame, next to the Vieux Séminaire de Saint- Sulpice and opposite the Place d'Armes. The neo-Gothic building was built from 1824 to 1829 and replaced the former parish church of the same name.

History

The parish church of Notre -Dame was located just north of today's Basilica. The Sulpizianerorden who possessed the basic rule on the Île de Montréal, ordered in 1672 the construction of the first church. It was built according to the plans of the local religious headman Dollier François de Casson and was completed in 1683. 1720 received the royal architect Gaspard -Joseph de Chaussegros Léry commissioned to create the new facades. Also planned was the construction of two bell towers, but the funds were only enough for one. This work was carried Chaussegros from 1723 to 1725.

In the years 1734 and 1739 the church was enlarged by the addition of side aisles. Due to the strong population growth, they gradually proved to be too small. 1821 and 1822 she was temporarily the first cathedral of the newly established Diocese of Montreal. In September 1822 recommended that a committee of the parish to build on the adjacent plot a much larger new building. The old church was demolished in 1830, the church tower remained in 1843. Obtaining various ruins.

Construction on the new church began in May 1824. Architect was James O'Donnell, a Protestant Irish origin from New York. Shortly before his death in 1830, he converted to Catholicism; the only one he is buried in the crypt. On 7 June 1829, the dedication of the new church took place. She was at that time the largest in the Americas north of Mexico. Under the leadership of John Ostell the two church towers were in 1841 and 1843 according to O'Donnell's plans completed. From 1872 to 1880, the interior was given a completely new design.

From 1888 to 1891 arose on the east side, a sacristy and the chapel of Notre -Dame du Sacré- Cœur. The latter was in December 1978 severely damaged by fire and restored until 1982. Until 1928 the church was the tallest building in the city. Pope John Paul II gave the Church on April 21, 1982 the title of minor basilica and visited them in September 1984.

Building

The basilica is located on Rue Notre Dame, opposite the Place d'Armes, the central square in the old town district of Montreal. On the south side borders the Vieux Séminaire de Saint- Sulpice, the seminar of Sulpizianerordens. The Basilica has a rectangular, geosteten floor plan and a gable roof. It consists of gray limestone, the traditional building material in Montreal 's Old Town. The two church towers, three high pointed arches of the portico and the polygonal buttresses the side facades give the building a slim effect. About the three portal arches are three niches with statues: the Immaculate Conception and St. Joseph of Nazareth and John the Baptist ( the patron saints of Canada and the French-Canadian ).

Victor Bourgeau designed the Gothic interior of the basilica. After some preliminary work had been done already, suggested pastor Benjamin Victor - Rousselot, to be inspired by the Sainte -Chapelle in Paris. The interior is rectangular and has no apse or transept. Rather, he is very focused on the semi-circular, increased lying chancel. Two rows of tall pillars divide the space into a central nave and two side aisles. From the roof hanging vaulted ceilings emphasize the division into three parallel rooms. Unusually, two rows of galleries and rising grandstands on both sides. Among the grandstands of the aisles smaller rooms for devotions and confessions are arranged.

Design and lighting of the interior are designed so that the eyes are directed to the altars. The iconography of the altarpiece explains the biblical foundations of the divine sacrifice, represented by the fair and then supper. At the top of the altar of the Virgin Mary is crowned by her resurrected son. Statues represent various biblical characters

Organ

Above the entrance rises a Casavant Frères organ. It has four manuals, 99 registers and 6500 pipes. The organ was installed 1885-1891; she was the world's first to be electrically driven.