400, rue Saint-Paul Est (East)

Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel & Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum: Heart of Old Montreal’s Spiritual Heritage

At the corner of St-Paul Street and Bonsecours, the Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel stands as one of Montreal’s oldest and most meaningful landmarks, a place where history, faith, and community intersect. Often called the Sailors’ Church, its riverside location made it a popular spiritual refuge for seafarers who entrusted their safety to Our Lady of Good Help—Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours.

Crowned by a golden statue of the Virgin Mary, arms extended and holding the Christ Child, the chapel’s rooftop also features angelic figures overlooking the Old Port, symbolically guiding sailors home. Inside, miniature ships hang from the ceiling, offered by grateful mariners as votive tributes—powerful reminders of Montreal’s connection to the river and the sea.

The chapel’s story began with Marguerite Bourgeoys, a French-born educator and visionary who arrived in Ville-Marie in the 1650s. As Montreal’s first teacher and one of its founding figures, she championed the creation of a religious space for the growing colony. After nearly two decades of persistence, the original chapel opened in 1675. Though destroyed by fire in 1754, it was rebuilt in 1771 directly on its original foundations.

Next to the chapel, the Marguerite Bourgeoys Museum offers a deeper look into her life and lasting contributions. Canonized in 1982 as Canada’s first female saint, Marguerite opened schools, welcomed the Filles du Roy, and worked closely with First Nations communities. The museum includes an archeological site in the crypt, where visitors can see remnants of the first chapel, early colonial walls, and artifacts from Indigenous peoples, offering a unique window into the earliest days of Montreal.

A wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, brought by Marguerite from France in 1672, survived the 18th-century fire and remains in the chapel to this day—a powerful link between past and present. Since 2005, the chapel also holds the relics of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, making it not only a heritage site but a deeply spiritual destination.

Together, the chapel and museum form one of the most significant historic and religious sites in Old Montreal, embodying the resilience, devotion, and cultural roots of the city.

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