Iconic Mount Royal cross to go dark for more than a year during restoration

The illuminated cross at the top of Mount Royal will go dark for more than a year beginning this fall, as the city undertakes major restoration work.

The 33-metre-tall cross, with its 10-metre-wide arms, that was erected more than a century ago by the Société St-Jean-Baptiste needs structural steel and electrical repairs as they have reached the end of their useful life after decades of being “exposed to extreme conditions at the city’s highest point,” the City of Montreal said in a statement.

“The cross will be turned off starting at the end of September 2026 and will be illuminated again before winter (at the end of) 2027,” the city’s statement said.

The city added that it plans to replace the lighting system while preserving the monument’s traditional appearance.

The new lighting will permanently remain white, in keeping with recommendations made by the Mount Royal Roundtable, an advisory body on the mountain’s preservation.

“We are seeking lighting that is consistent with heritage characteristics, featuring bulbs reminiscent of those used in 1924 and suitable for outdoor environmental conditions,” the city said.

The news was first reported Wednesday by Le Devoir.

The restoration will affect access to the immediate area around the monument, though the summit loop trail will remain open to pedestrians.

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