In this section, you will find some places in the borough that have commemorative, cultural and architectural interest.

In the second part of the nineteenth century, Notre-Dame-de-Grâce became the home of major teaching institutions, and institutions for disabled and chronically ill people and orphans. In the northwest area of the neighbourhood, this vocation is particularly visible even today. Within a perimeter bordered by the Décarie highway in the east, by Côte-St-Luc Road in the north, by Victoria Avenue in the west and by Westmount Avenue in the south, is situated the Villa Maria convent.

Villa Maria Convent

• Since 1854, a convent and school run by the sisters of the congregation of Notre-Dame.

• The site contains twenty-three buildings and annexes.

• The oldest building is situated at the end of the main gated entrance that opens onto Décarie Boulevard at the north side of Monkland Street. The building had several vocations before the nuns' arrival.

James Monk's Manor (1803-1844)

The central part of this building, constructed in 1803, was the manor of James Monk, a loyalist of American origin. At that time, the property was known as "Monklands." This house (classed as an historic monument since 1976 by Québec's cultural affairs department), has not been changed very much since it was built, with the exception of the disappearance of a monumental portal composed of eight columns.

Residence of the Governor General (1844-1849)

From 1844 to 1849, Monklands was the official residence of the Governor General of Canada. It was at this time that the two low wings and the addition on the back were built. The work was entrusted to architect George Browne. In total, three governors general lived in the house: Sir Charles Metcalf, Lord Cathcart and Lord Elgin. The house ceased to be the residence of the Governor General in 1849. That was the year that Montréal lost its title as the country's capital, following a riot in which the mob set fire to the Parliament, situated in the building that had housed the St. Anne market (now Place d'Youville).

Hotel (1850-1854)

From 1850 to 1854, the governor general's residence became a hotel managed by Sébastien Compain.

Villa Maria Convent (since 1854)

In 1854, the Notre-Dame congregation, which had just sold its land in Point Saint Charles to the Grand Trunk Railway, purchased the Monklands estate to found a boarding school that they named Villa Maria. The sisters progressively enlarged the central section by adding wings. They used the services of renowned architects such as Henri-Maurice Perrault and Victor Bourgeau. To respond to their boarders' needs, the sisters of the congregation also had other buildings constructed.

An old stone barn and a small wooden house built around 1900 can also be found on the site.

Source: l'Autre Montréal, a non-profit educational organization