The façade’s first public unveiling marks a visible milestone in the basilica’s conservation, although the wider restoration—estimated at $100 million—will continue for years.
Montréal’s Notre-Dame Basilica presented its restored façade to the public on Sunday, October 25, after years in which scaffolding obscured the Old Montréal landmark. The unveiling was paired with a musical programme on the plaza and inside the church, turning a conservation milestone into a public cultural event.
CityNews reported that more than 800 guests were expected. The programme featured the Société philharmonique du Nouveau Monde, with more than 150 musicians, performing Martín Palmeri’s Misa Tango under the artistic direction of maestro Michel Brousseau, followed by an organ interlude from Jean-Willy Kunz.
The façade’s return to view does not mean the wider project is finished. The overall restoration, covering exterior stonework and interior decoration, is estimated at about $100 million and is expected to continue for several more years. Michel Issa, general manager of the Fabrique de la paroisse Notre-Dame de Montréal, has previously estimated that interior restoration could take another five to ten years, with completion expected by 2035.
The work involves more than improving the building’s appearance. Conservators are repairing masonry and preserving historic painted decoration rather than simply repainting it. Dinu Bumbaru of Heritage Montréal said suitable stone and workers with the required specialist skills are increasingly difficult to find, underscoring why the newly visible façade is one milestone in a much longer preservation effort.