Saint Joseph's Oratory: Montreal as you've never seen it before

Perched on the western flank of Mount Royal, Saint Joseph's Oratory is one of the most important religious monuments in Quebec. It attracts 2 million pilgrims and visitors every year.

The basilica, museum and gardens are a must-see on any trip to Montreal.

Mount Royal is the hill that dominates the city of Montreal.

It was explorer Jacques Cartier who first named Mount Royal when he admired the view from its summit, and from its belvedere, the panoramic view of the Quebec city is exceptional. The Mount Royal district is one of Montreal's most exclusive neighbourhoods. At the end of the 19th century, around 70% of the country's wealth was to be found on the slopes of this hill.

Mount Royal Park has a lake, two cemeteries, a chapel, a grove and plenty of activities for Montrealers to enjoy.

The dream of a lifetime: Brother André works opposite Mount Royal. Every day, he sees the spot where he would like to build an oratory, a small place dedicated to prayer in honour of Saint Joseph, the father of Jesus (before the basilica was built, Saint Joseph's oratory was simply a small wooden monument dedicated to the worship of Joseph). The congregation of Sainte-Croix helped him to make his project a reality. However, the Archbishop of Montreal made it clear that the costs would have to be borne by the applicants.

So Brother André began to collect funds from donors. By 1904, he had collected enough to buy the small piece of land he had been coveting for so long and to build a wooden oratory dedicated to Saint Joseph. It measured only about 20 square metres and was not large enough to accommodate all the worshippers. During the summer months, the large doors are open and the religious pray wherever they can.

Four years later, the oratory was enlarged and even heated.

The popularity of Brother André and his chapel on the hillside continued to grow, and one extension followed another.

In 1917, the crypt was inaugurated. It had a capacity of 1,000 people and was able to hold all the services. From the outset, the crypt was intended to house a basilica.

Brother André was delighted to see the architects design a basilica for Saint-Joseph. Work began in 1924 and was completed in 1967. Unfortunately, Brother André never saw the basilica completed, as the work ended 30 years after his death. At the age of 91, the religious who built this magnificent basilica was buried in a small funeral chapel outside the church. He was canonised in 1982 by Pope John Paul II.

The large dome is inspired by the majestic Italian basilicas of Rome.

The chapel is 155 metres high, making it one of the highest points in Montreal. In fact, it is over 280 metres above sea level and the third tallest oratory in the world.

Religious or not, the chapel is an architectural feat with an engaging story about a man who made his dream come true. The building is magnificent, and the walk to it is a must-do in Montreal. The elegant staircases leading up to the oratory create a fabulous focal point and a somewhat sacred experience.

The sacred site consists of the basilica, the small original chapel, a votive chapel and the crypt. In addition, you can visit the oratory museum and the gardens.

The oratory museum, discovering the history of Brother AndréAt the heart of the basilica, the oratory museum tells the story of Brother André, the oratory and sacred art in general. It also contains more than 900 Christmas cots, acquired from all over the world.

Relax in the gardens of the Way of the CrossOutside, 17 sculptures representing the Passion of Christ make the gardens of the oratory a pleasant and artistic stroll. The Way of the Cross allows the faithful to share intensely in the sufferings of Christ.