Places, Traditions and Discoveries · Drawing 02 of 40
The Oratory’s great dome
Montréal
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 the basilica at Saint Joseph’s Oratory 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 illustration notes (1)
Simplified architecture: recognizable dome and building mass, with a schematic staircase and details.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- Saint Joseph’s Oratory — The BasilicaConstruction began in 1924; granite from the Lac-Mégantic region, copper, and two domes of different sizes.
Page prepared on September 12, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Québec Treasures to Colour
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