L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel, a historic building with over three centuries of existence, has its fair share of ghostly tales. According to insiders, the lingering spirit of a young girl roams the premises, her spectral presence occasionally marked by the faint strains of piano music echoing through the halls.
Legend has it that this unfortunate soul met her tragic end in a fire that ravaged the building, forever tethering her spirit to the place she once called home.
The History of L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel
Dating back to 1688, L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel holds the distinction of being one of Montreal’s oldest structures. Originally constructed by French soldier Etienne Truteau, it has undergone various transformations over the centuries.
In 1754, it achieved another milestone as the first inn in North America to receive a liquor license. Throughout its storied past, the building has served multiple purposes, including housing the Beauchemin printing press, which printed the newspaper Le Patriote starting in 1860.
The Ghost Story of L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel
The haunting legend surrounding L’Auberge Saint-Gabriel centers around a heart-wrenching tragedy that occurred within its walls. As the tale goes, a young girl and her grandfather found themselves trapped upstairs during a fire that engulfed the ground floor.
The grandfather, in a desperate bid to shield his granddaughter from harm, continued her piano lesson even as the flames closed in around them. Today, visitors can experience the ambiance of this historic establishment, which has been meticulously preserved to showcase its rich heritage.
And for those brave enough, a venture into the basement reveals the remnants of a fur trading post, now transformed into a speakeasy known as The Velvet.