Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours

This small chapel, Montreal's oldest church, dates back to 1657. Margaret Bourgeoys, who founded the Notre Dame congregation of nuns, initiated construction, originally to provide sailors a refuge of peace and comfort. Legend has it that Montreal's founder, Paul Chomedey, personally cut timbers for the small chapel. A statue, "Our Lady of Good Hope" (hence "de Bon Secours"), was donated by the French. The statue reaches out her arms to protect sailors from the treacherous seas. No less enthralling is the Marguerite-Bourgeoys Museum where you can cover more than 2,000 years of religious and colonial history. The tomb of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, the tower lookout, and the archaeological site are especially interesting attractions.