Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal
James O'Donnell · Montreal, Canada · 1829
Montreal's Notre-Dame Basilica gives a nineteenth-century church an especially elaborate Gothic Revival interior. James O'Donnell designed the principal building, opened in 1829, with later campaigns enriching the sanctuary and other spaces. Behind the relatively ordered stone frontage, painted surfaces, carved timber and a deep blue vault create a strongly characterized religious setting. The basilica's position facing Place d'Armes makes its civic role clear before entry, while the interior demonstrates how colour and decorative craft can transform the perception of a large hall. Visiting: Cultural visits are ticketed. Worship follows separate access arrangements.