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Hopital General des Soeurs-Grises Review

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Hôpital Général des Soeurs-Grises

Address: 138 rue St-Pierre, Vieux-Montréal, Montréal, QC | Map It
Phone: 514/842-9411

General Hospital of the Gray Nuns

Category: Memorials/Monuments
Location: Vieux-Montréal

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Fodor's Review:

A few jagged stone walls are all that's left of Montréal's first general hospital. The ruins—which once formed the west wing and the transept of the chapel—have been preserved as a memorial to Canada's first native-born saint, Marguerite d'Youville (1701-71), who took over the hospital in 1747 and ran it until a fire destroyed the building in 1765. The gold script on the wall facing the street is a copy of the letters patent signed by Louis XIV establishing the hospital. St. Marguerite's life was no walk in the park, as you'll find out if you visit the Maison de Mère d'Youville next door to the ruins. Marguerite started looking after the city's down-and-outs after the death of her abusive and disreputable husband. Amused that the widow of a whiskey trader should be helping the town drunks, locals took to calling Marguerite and her Soeurs de la Charité (Sisters of Charity) the Soeurs Grises (Gray Nuns), slang for "tipsy nuns." The Maison has some remarkable reminders of her life, such as the kitchen where she worked, with its enormous fireplace and stone sink. Call ahead for tours of the house (ask for Sister Thérèse Pelletier or Sister Marguerite Daoust).

Cost: Free
Open: By appointment only, Tues.-Sun. 9-4
Metro: Square-Victoria

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