Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel is the small church at the east end of Rue Saint-Paul that sailors once looked for as they came into the port, and it is one of the most rewarding stops in Old Montreal for anyone interested in the city's earliest days. The chapel standing today dates from 1771 and rests on the foundations of a stone chapel built in 1675 at the initiative of Marguerite Bourgeoys, who arrived in Ville-Marie in 1653, founded the Congregation de Notre-Dame and became the colony's first teacher; she was canonised in 1982 and her remains are kept in the chapel. Its nickname, the Sailors' Church, comes from the model ships hanging from the ceiling, offerings from seafarers who gave thanks for safe crossings, and from the statue of the Virgin on the roof facing the river with arms open. The historic site around the chapel is run as a museum: interpretation panels and exhibitions tell Marguerite Bourgeoys' story and the history of the neighbourhood, and archaeological excavations beneath the chapel reveal traces of the earlier chapels and of human presence on the site going back some 2,400 years, long before European arrival. The best moment comes at the end, when you climb the tower to the small lookout beside the aerial chapel, with views over the Bonsecours Market dome, the Old Port and the river. The chapel itself can usually be visited free, while the museum, archaeological site and tower are paid; the Montreal Museums Card is accepted.
Why go: the big Notre-Dame Basilica dominates Old Montreal's postcards, but Bon-Secours is older in spirit and far more intimate. It tells the story of the women who shaped Ville-Marie, and Marguerite Bourgeoys is one of the most important figures in Montreal's founding, the teacher who opened the first school in a stable and organised the reception of the young women sent from France to marry settlers. The ship models, the painted ceiling and the stained-glass windows give the chapel a maritime character unlike any other church in the city, and the archaeological site, where you see the stones of the first chapels in place, gives real depth to the visit.
How to visit well: allow about an hour for the museum, the excavations and the tower. The tower climb involves narrow stairs and is not accessible to wheelchairs, and the site as a whole is listed as not accessible, so check before going if mobility is a concern. Visit the chapel first, then go down to the archaeological site and finish at the top for the views. In summer the lookout is a lovely spot for photographs of the Old Port and the Grande Roue; in winter hours are reduced, so check the schedule. Masses are still celebrated, so visitors should be quiet during services.
Practicals: the site is at 400 Rue Saint-Paul Est, beside Bonsecours Market, a short walk from Champ-de-Mars metro station and a few minutes from Chateau Ramezay and Place Jacques-Cartier. Passeport MTL offers a reduced price, and the Montreal Museums Card is accepted. Combine it with a walk along the Old Port promenade below, and with Pointe-a-Calliere at the other end of Old Montreal to complete the founding story.
What to expect
The experience
An eighteenth-century chapel with votive ship models, a museum devoted to Marguerite Bourgeoys, an archaeological site beneath the chapel and a tower lookout over the Old Port.
Best time
Mornings or late afternoons in summer for the tower views; winter hours are reduced.
How long
About an hour for museum, excavations and tower.
Tips
Climb the tower last for the river views. Narrow stairs; the site is not wheelchair accessible. Be quiet during Mass. Montreal Museums Card accepted.
Quick picks
- Best for
- History lovers who want the intimate story of Ville-Marie's founders.
- Families
- The tower climb and archaeology appeal to older children; little ones may find the stairs tiring.
- Couples
- The tower lookout over the Old Port is a quietly romantic spot.
- Pair with
- Chateau Ramezay, Bonsecours Market and the Old Port promenade.
- Time needed
- One hour.
Good questions
Why is it called the Sailors' Church?+
Because of its position facing the port and the model ships hanging from the ceiling, given by sailors as thanks for safe voyages. A statue of the Virgin on the roof faces the river with open arms.
Who was Marguerite Bourgeoys?+
A French woman who came to Ville-Marie in 1653, became its first teacher and founded the Congregation de Notre-Dame. She was canonised in 1982 and her remains rest in the chapel.
Is it free?+
The chapel itself can usually be visited free of charge, while the museum, the archaeological site and the tower require a paid ticket. The Montreal Museums Card is accepted.
Can I climb the tower?+
Yes. The tower is part of the paid visit and offers views of the Old Port and the river. It involves narrow stairs and is not accessible to wheelchairs.
Where is it?+
At 400 Rue Saint-Paul Est in Old Montreal, beside Bonsecours Market, a short walk from Champ-de-Mars metro station.
