Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery covers 139 hectares on Mount Royal and is the largest cemetery in Canada. Tree-shaded paths pass graves, mausoleums and monuments connected with artists, musicians and politicians, including Calixa Lavallée, who wrote “O Canada.” The cemetery also offers a quiet way to see Montréal’s cultural diversity: headstones bear inscriptions in languages including French, English, Armenian, Russian and Greek. Grounds conditions have been reported as uneven, so plan for a reflective walk rather than a reliably maintained garden visit.
A cemetery on Mount Royal
Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery occupies 139 hectares on Mount Royal. Its scale and tree-lined paths give the grounds the feel of a broad landscape of roads, graves and mausoleums. It is Canada’s largest cemetery, and the paths offer a quieter walk than many of Montréal’s busier public spaces.
The cemetery is Catholic and follows the rural cemetery tradition common in the Americas, with open space between burial areas. Its location also makes it possible to link a visit with nearby cemeteries on Mount Royal.
Monuments, graves and languages
Look for mausoleums and graves associated with politicians, artists and musicians. Calixa Lavallée, composer of “O Canada,” is among those buried here. Monuments and headstones also show the many languages and communities that make up Montréal. Inscriptions include French, English, Armenian, Russian, Greek, Chinese, German and Italian.
Some headstones include photographs or images set into tiles. The variety of inscriptions and memorial forms gives the walk a close view of how families have marked graves across generations.
Planning a respectful walk
The cemetery is at 4601 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges. On-site parking is available, and the entrance and parking are wheelchair accessible. Grounds conditions have been reported as inconsistent, with overgrown areas that can make some graves harder to reach. Choose footwear for walking outdoors and allow extra time if you have a particular section in mind.
Treat the grounds as a place of mourning as well as a historic site. Keep conversations quiet and do not photograph people. If you want to extend the walk, the Protestant Mount Royal cemetery is adjacent; the Jewish and Spanish-Portuguese cemetery is farther north.
Häufige Fragen
Where is Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery?
It is at 4601 chemin de la Côte-des-Neiges in Montréal, on Mount Royal.
How long should I allow for a visit?
Allow about 1 to 2 hours for a walk through part of the grounds. The cemetery is large, so seeing more of it takes longer.
Can I visit other cemeteries nearby?
The Protestant Mount Royal cemetery is adjacent. The Jewish and Spanish-Portuguese cemetery is farther north.
Is parking available?
Yes. The cemetery has on-site parking, including a free parking lot.
