Visiting the Église Saint-François-de-Sales, Gatineau, Quebec: Strongly Neo-Gothic Styling From the 19th Century

[NB: Among the many notable buildings which are the subject of the hubpages, these may include religious buildings, described as churches, etc.; these descriptions centre on the buildings' architectural and historical interest.]

Founded in 1840, Église Saint-François-de-Sales (1), Gatineau, Quebec, in its building's main body dates was built in 1886, with significant, subsequent artwork added. Situated on the intersection of Boulevard Gréber and Rue Jacques-Cartier, Gatineau, and close to the Pont Lady-Aberdeen / Lady Aberdeen Bridge over the Rivière Gatineau / Gatineau River, fine river views made be had from its location.

Gatineau's Parc de la Baie (2) is also situated close to the Église Saint-François-de-Sales.

Features of this building include its tall, single tower set the right of the Rue Jacques-Cartier elevation; pinnacles, a profusion of pointed window and door arching and flying buttresses. These features combine to give evidence of a very strong sense of Neo-Gothic stylistic influence.

Another striking feature of the Église Saint-François-de-Sales is its rose window, situated above the entrance way at the Rue Jacques-Cartier elevation, thus making the building reminiscent of Medieval French cathedrals.

Inside the building, its organ is by Casavant et Frères, of Saint-Hyacinthe, dating from 1917.

Interestingly, at what is now the nearby Pont Lady-Aberdeen / Lady Aberdeen Bridge, Lady Aberdeen, consort of the then Governor-General of Canada Lord Aberdeen nearly drowned in 1896, and in gratitude to alert local people who saved her from the waters of the Rivière Gatineau / Gatineau River, later donated a bell to the Église Saint-François-de-Sales.

The photo, above, is also interesting: dating from 1947, it is derived from an archive of photographs taken by Champlain Marcil (1920-2010)(3).

While over 70 years old, the photograph, above depicts the Église Saint-François-de-Sales, Gatineau essentially as it looks today.

March 3, 2020

Notes

(1) See also: http://www.semainierparoissial.com/paroisses/303/303a_frame.html ; Michelin Green Guide to Quebec, Michelin North America (Canada) Inc., Laval, QC, 1996, p.111;

https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMG7XV_glise_de_Saint_Franois_de_Sales_Gatineau_Qubec

(2) Parc de la Baie is itself situated at the confluence of the Rivière Gatineau / Gatineau River with the Rivière de l'Outaouais / Ottawa River.

(3) This collection, which runs to 135,425 items, is held at the Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec / National Library and Archives of Québec, at Gatineau. Champlain Marcil was known as a prolific photographer, particularly of scenes in Outaouais.

Some sourcing: Wikipedia

In Gatineau itself, the Musée canadien des civilisations / Canadian Museum of Civilization is Canada's most visited museum. Gatineau's Masion du citoyen / Citizen's House has a noted art gallery and the Hall des nations / Hall of the Nations containing valuable cultural artifacts from around the world. Parc de la Gatineau / Gatineau Park has exceptional recreational and scenic possibilities.

In Ottawa (distance: 2 kilometres from Downtown, Gatineau) possesses cultural treasures, structures of architectural excellence and noted museums which are too numerous to mention properly here; but a few of these include Parliament Hill, Rideau Hall, the Chateau Laurier, Laurier House, the Rideau Canal, and the Bank of Canada's Currency Museum.

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How to get there: Air Canada flies from various North American destinations to Ottawa Macdonald-Cartier International Airport / Aéroport international Macdonald-Cartier d'Ottawa, where car rental is available. However, travellers may prefer to use OC Transpo public transit for travel within Ottawa / Gatineau. Please check with the airline or your travel agent for up to date information.

MJFenn is an independent travel writer based in Ontario, Canada.