Notre-Dame Basilica of Montréal is Montréal’s mother church and was the first Gothic Revival style church in Canada. Its history has been marked by the Sulpicians since its foundation and is inseparable from that of Montréal. It speaks to its Catholic roots and the eternal link between art and religion. The Basilica’s style was imitated by several parishes and marked a turning point in religious architectural tradition. In addition to being a place for prayer and celebration of Catholic worship, Notre-Dame is also a place for important national events like state funerals. It was raised to the rank of minor basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1982 and designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1989. Its religious, historical and artistic importance makes it a treasure of Quebec’s heritage and one of the most visited sites in Montréal.