Places, Traditions and Discoveries · Drawing 02
The Oratory's great dome
In Montréal, Saint Joseph's Oratory is known for its great dome. A wide staircase leads up to this place of prayer, which many people visit.
Look together
What shape can you see at the top?
An idea to try
Find a rounded object and a rectangular object in the room. Compare their outlines with the dome and building.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Construction of Saint Joseph's Oratory's large building began in 1924. Its exterior includes granite from the Lac-Mégantic region and copper roofs. The dome has a particular feature: an outer shell and a smaller inner dome. What visitors see outside therefore does not exactly match the shape inside.
Compare the rounded top with the straighter lines of the building and stairs. Present the Oratory as a Catholic place of prayer whose architecture can also be explored. Your child can describe its shapes without sharing a particular belief.
Sources and context
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. Source titles appear in their original language; some linked pages are in French.
Source review: 2026-09-12. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.