Saint-Sulpice Seminary (Montreal)

The Vieux Séminaire de Saint- Sulpice (Old Seminary of St. Sulpicius ) is a historic building in Montreal. It is located in the Old Town (Vieux- Montréal) on the rue Notre -Dame Ouest, close to the Notre -Dame de Montréal Basilica, and opposite the Place d'Armes. The seminar of Sulpizianerordens was built in 1684-1687 and is the oldest surviving building in the city. It is a listed building and is since 1980 a National Historic Site.

History

The Sulpician worked in Montreal from 1657 and was built on Rue Saint -Paul, a first seminar to be trained in priests. A quarter century later, they decided to move next to the new parish church of Notre -Dame. According to plans by François Dollier de Casson, the local head of the Order, was born 1684-1687 a new seminar. In the years 1704 and 1713 two wings were added. 1740 was added a portal end of the 18th century, a wall that separates the yard from the street.

1840 ended the basic rule of the Sulpician on the Île de Montréal. As compensation, Bishop Ignace Bourget rendered them the entire training of priests of the diocese. A significant part of it was outsourced to the newly founded Grand Séminaire de Montréal. The Old seminar should be completely demolished and make way for a new building. After the east wing was rebuilt in 1848-1852, the Order changed in 1854, his mind and decided to get the rest in original condition. 1907/ 08 came on the back add an attachment.

Building

The three-story building has many features of French colonial architecture in New France. The masonry is composed of gray limestone and rough-hewn boulders. A Portal from polished stones and a striking clock with an attached bell tower form the central axis. The clock dates from 1701 and is the oldest in North America, which is still in operation. The dial was made in Paris and gilded on the spot by the nuns of the Congregation of Notre-Dame de Montréal. The portal contains in its tympanum a coat of arms of the Order with the monogram AM ( Auspice Maria). In the 17th century, the Sulpician placed behind the seminar to a baroque garden, which is maintained to this day and is one of the oldest in the country.