Almost every country has a centuries-old cemetery where prominent figures are buried who have made a significant contribution to the state's history: politicians, writers, poets, scientists, scholars, athletes, businessmen, and so on. Montreal still has the Notre-Dame-de-Neuve Cemetery, which attracts tourists interested in Canadian history and culture.
History and features of the cemetery
Notre-Dame-de-Neige, the largest cemetery in Canada and one of the largest in America, was opened in 1854 with the support of architect Henri Maurice Perrault. It is a French garden cemetery where French-Canadian Catholics were originally buried. Over time, burial became possible for members of other Christian denominations, although Protestants choose mostly other locations.
Notre Dame de Neiges has many mausoleums and chapels, there is a copy of Michelangelo's Pieta (the original is in St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican) and copies of other famous sculptural and architectural works. Tourists can see the most beautiful monuments by buying a tour with a local guide: if you walk around on your own, you might miss the most interesting things.
Thousands of people known throughout Canada and the world are buried on the grounds of Notre Dame de Nege.
- Hockey player Maurice Richard.
- Prime Minister of Quebec Honoré Mercier
- Filmmaker Gilles Charles.
- Nationalist politician Henri Bourassa.
- Politician Joan Mathilde Council
- Writer and actor Greti Gélinas
- Poet Emile Nelligan
- The mayor of Montreal, Camillian Oude.
- And many others.
When traveling in Canada with children, don't take them on this tour: the atmosphere can be depressing to a child's psyche. Also, don't forget: the cemetery is in operation, so people can have a funeral ceremony next to your walk at the same time.
Interesting Facts
- The number of graves - more than 1 million
- The length of the track exceeds 55 kilometers
- The cemetery has an area of 1.39 square kilometers.
