Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica

The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal is built on the site of first church of Notre-Dame which had stood across from the Place d’Armes since 1640. When the old church became too small to hold many worshippers the decision was made to tear down the old Notre-Dame and architect James O’Donnell was placed in charge of building a new, grand cathedral. When it opened in 1830, Montreal’s Notre-Dame was the largest church in North America, and it would remain so for fifty years. Hoping to be buried in his finest creation, O’Donnell would convert to Catholicism shortly before his death, and is still the only person entombed in the basilica’s crypt.

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