Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica, Ottawa, ON

The bell towers and twin spires of Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica have graced Ottawa’s skyline for over 150 years. Integrating elements of classicism and French-Canadian church architecture, this basilica’s exceptional design was inspired by the French Gothic Revival. Initially planned as a parish church in 1839, it was transformed in stature and design as it achieved the status of cathedral for the new Catholic Diocese of Bytown in 1847, mother church of the Archdiocese of Ottawa, and basilica in 1879. As the spiritual centre of Ottawa’s Catholic community, its role is enhanced by the numerous religious buildings that surround it.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica has undergone a complex evolution over its history. The building project was initiated in 1839 when Bytown (now Ottawa) was a small frontier lumber town. It was planned as a parish church, and its original design was modeled on the Neoclassical St. Patrick’s Church in Québec City. In 1844, the partially built structure was transformed to the Gothic Revival style under Oblate priests Adrien Telmon and Damase Dandurand. As a result, the round-headed arches of the building’s front doorways have a classical appearance, but the pointed upper windows reflect the Gothic Revival style. When the building was raised to the status of cathedral for the Catholic Diocese of Bytown in 1847, a program of improvements under parish priest Father Dandurand began. Impressive steeples were added in 1858, then, in 1862-63 an apse was built in the Gothic Revival style to designs by Montréal priest-architect Victor Bourgeau. When Father Dandurand departed in 1875, he was replaced by Rev. Georges Bouillon, a priest-architect whose work further enhanced the building’s interior.

The richly decorated interior of the basilica is one of the finest in the country. It features detailed, vaulted ceilings painted blue with gold stars and embellished with ribs supported by wooden, faux marble columns. The apse is richly gilded and polychromatic and the altar is intricately carved. The sanctuary is adorned with many statues of biblical figures, angels, and saints, including of Christ, Mary, and St. Joseph, the patron saint of Canada. Large side altars exhibit the same ornate detail and level of craftsmanship as the rest of the basilica. Noted Canadian sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert and woodworkers Flavien Rochon and Philippe Pariseau all played a part in creating this elaborate interior. Between 1956 and 1961, some of the basilica’s original stained glass windows were replaced by a series of 17 windows by Guido Nincheri that tell the story of the lives of Jesus and Mary. Both Nincheri and Hébert have been recognized as national historic persons for their contributions to art in Canada.

Notre-Dame Cathedral Basilica is prominently located on Sussex Drive in one of Ottawa’s oldest neighbourhoods, home to a large number of Catholic institutional buildings including the Archbishop’s Palace and the Grey Nuns Mother House.