Saint-Patrick’s Basilica

St Patrick's Basilica, memory of the Irish community

The Montreal audio-guided tour stops you before St Patrick's Basilica, approached with quiet respect. This religious building, one of the oldest English-speaking places of worship in the city, is closely linked to the history of the Irish community of Montreal.

The Great Famine and Irish immigration

In the 1830s, Canada experienced strong Irish immigration, while Ireland was already going through great economic hardship. The Great Famine of 1845, caused by the potato blight that destroyed the country's main source of food, was a tragic episode that affected more than a million Irish people and drove many of them into exile. The basilica, opened in 1847, welcomed this stricken community.

What there is to see

The basilica is a fine example of early neo-Gothic. With respect for silence, you admire its vaults, its stained glass and its careful decor, which make it a place of peace in the heart of downtown. Considered a national historic site of Canada, it remains the spiritual home of the Irish Catholic community of Montreal.

Practical information

St Patrick's Basilica is at 460 René-Lévesque Boulevard West, in downtown Montreal. An active Catholic place of worship, it can be visited with respect for silence and services; opening times may vary with celebrations. Access is on the level.

When did St Patrick's Basilica open?

The basilica opened its doors in 1847, when Montreal was welcoming a large Irish community stricken by the Great Famine of 1845.

What link does the basilica have with Ireland?

It was built for the Irish community of Montreal, very numerous after the immigration of the 1830s and the Great Famine of 1845. It remains its spiritual home.