During my brief visit on Monday to the Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery I was only able to cover a tiny area of what is the largest cemetery in Canada (third largest in North America).
For a long time, I’ve been wanting to locate and photograph the location where the road is lined by private family mausoleum’s. I fortunately came across it almost immediately upon entering the cemetery from the Camillien Houde entrance (opposite the car park for Mount Royal).
Since the cemetery covers 343 acres and has 55km of lanes – not to mention the smaller 165 acre Mount Royal Cemetery located next door – I could easily spend many day’s photographing here. But with the storm clouds moving in quickly, I only had the chance to get a few shots of the entrance to the Sainte-Marguerite d’Youville Mausoleum that was built in 1996. This is just one of 9 mausoleums that have been added to the cemetery grounds since the first was constructed in 1978.
The Notre-Dame-des-Neiges cemetery first opened in 1854 and has over one million people interred, 65,000 monuments and 71 family vaults. With over 5,000 trees (half being ornamental varieties) and its location on the side of Mount Royal, the cemetery is wonderful place to explore and has great views.
I did locate one important memorial – that of Robert Bourassa, Prime Minister of Québec during 1970-76 and 1985-94.
I’m hoping to head back before the end of the Autumn colors, but if not, Winter offers some great photographic opportunities there too – A bit of a cliché, but a black and white shot on a misty day with crows is my dream shot 😉
Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.
– Martin