Tours of Montreal's oldest religious building back by popular demand

Montrealers who weren't able to take a guided tour of theSaint-Sulpice Seminary, opened to the public for the first time this summer,will have another chance next year.

The buildinglocated next to Notre-Dame Basilica on the corner of Notre-DameandSaint-Franois-Xavierstreets isthe oldest religious building in the city.

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The site, which still houses priests today, was opened for a limited number of guided group tours featuring a special exhibition as part of the city's 375th anniversary.

Organizers were surprised by how much demand there was for tours, and had to increase their frequency. They ended upoffering three times as many tours as they'd planned.

The exhibition closes Sept. 9, and about 4,000 people were able to visit this year, soorganizers decided to extend it into next summer.

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Exhibit curatorJeanRey-Regazzisays the seminary and its occupants helped shape the city into what it is today.

"In my opinion, it'snot really an expo onreligious history. It's more about theof history of Montreal and Quebec. And how the founding of the city and the history of the city is intrinsically linked to religious congregations."

What are they clamouring to see?

Built between 1684 and1687, it is the second oldest building in Montreal the oldest building is Lachine'sLeBer-LeMoyne House, built in 1671.

It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1985.

The seminary grounds also include a garden, originally used by the priests to grow produce. It's regarded asone of the oldest gardens of its kind in North America.

The garden is not open to the public and can only be accessed during one of the guided tours.

The seminary'swebsitehighlights the importance of the iconic clock that sits atopthe building.

"The Old Seminary of Saint-Sulpice is also characterized by its clock, which would be the oldest of its kind in North America," it states

It was added in1701 andwas gilded in Paris by theSisters of theCongregation of Notre-Dame.

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The building underwent a significant restoration starting in 2005, with work done on the roofing, masonry and windows.

According to the Quebec Culture Ministry,buildings dating from this eraare rare in Montreal,becausefire and demolition destroyed the vast majority of them.