The Ghost Girl of Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel

December 17, 2024
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Into Horror History
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These days, you can't throw a rock without hitting something haunted. Ghost stories are nearly everywhere, in books and movies, on TV and social media, and there's at least one sketchy-looking old house per city block, not to mention the creepy rundown places in rural areas. But how often do you think about ghosts in your daily routine? Like the place you live right now—it could be haunted. Or your favorite grocery store, bar, or coffee shop.

Yes, ghost stories are everywhere if you're paying attention. I bet you've been to haunted locations and didn't even realize it. Maybe, just maybe, there's a spirit lingering around your favorite local restaurant. There's a renowned fine-dining restaurant called Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel in Old Montreal with a ghost story, but most visitors have no idea because the menu doesn't have a Haunt d'Oeuvres section.

An original ink and watercolor artwork depicting the ghostly figure of a young girl surrounded by musical notes and staff lines, which appear to dissolve and melt into smoke. The spectral figure seems to emerge from a dark, ethereal background, evoking an eerie and haunting atmosphere. The artwork is textured, with shadowy tones and hints of rust-like colors, representing the haunting legend of the ghost girl at Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel.
Ghost Girl of Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel. Original art by J.A. Hernandez.

Where Is Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel?

Quebec, a province in eastern Canada, is home to Montreal, its largest city. Quebec was founded in 1608 by Samuel de Champlain as a French settlement and became the center of New France. Following the British victory in the Seven Years' War, it was ceded to Britain in 1763 and later became one of Canada's founding provinces in 1867.

Google Map of Montreal in Canada's eastern region, with surrounding provinces, U.S. states, and notable cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and New York.
Montreal. If you squint, there's a little red circle around it to the east of Ottawa.

Montreal sits on an island in the Saint Lawrence River. Within the city is an area known as Old Montreal (French: Vieux-Montréal). It's a historic neighborhood stretching from McGill Street in the west to Saint Hubert Street in the east and is bordered by Saint Antoine Street to the north.

Google Map of Montreal, highlighting Old Montreal City with a red marker. Major roads, neighborhoods, and the Saint Lawrence River are visible.
Old Montreal.

The streets are known for cobblestone, and the buildings are known for their preserved colonial architecture. Old Montreal is also home to famous landmarks like Notre-Dame Basilica and Place Jacques-Cartier.

A twilight view of Old Montreal's cobblestone streets, lined with historic buildings illuminated by warm streetlights. French flags and colorful banners hang from the buildings, with a clear blue evening sky in the background.
Old Montreal at twilight.

Old Montreal goes back to 1642 when French settlers founded Fort Ville-Marie. It was initially a fur-trading post, and over time, it became a fortified settlement and eventually came under British rule. Today, you can still see carefully preserved historical sites and even catch a horse-drawn carriage to 426 St Gabriel St for a meal or drink at Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel.

History of Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel

In the heart of Old Montreal stands Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel, a historic landmark and the oldest inn in North America still in operation with a liquor license. 🍺🍷🍸

A cobblestone street in Old Montreal with Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel, a historic stone building featuring ivy-covered walls, a gated entrance, and greenery. The sun casts shadows on the façade, with modern red brick buildings in the background.
Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel in Old Montreal.

Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel was built in 1688 by French soldier Étienne Truteau as a private residence. It was later turned into an inn, and in 1754, it became the first officially licensed tavern in New France. Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel quickly became a favorite spot for locals, merchants, and travelers passing through Montreal's bustling port.

The name "Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel" combines "Auberge," the French word for "inn," and "Saint-Gabriel," a reference to the archangel Gabriel, often associated with messages and hospitality.

In 1721, a massive fire tore through Montreal, thought to have been sparked by a chimney fire, and destroyed an estimated 300 wooden buildings. Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel is one of the structures believed to have survived the massive blaze, likely due to its stone construction. The fiery devastation reshaped Montreal's construction practices, and the city started using a lot more stone to help reduce the fire risks.

The name Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel has variations like L'Auberge Saint Gabriel and Auberge Saint-Gabriel due to differences in French style and usage. "L'" is a contraction for smoother pronunciation, while "Le" or "L'" may be dropped in casual or English contexts. All refer to the same historic inn, but Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel is the full and most formal name. If you're a native speaker of Quebec French and have thoughts or corrections, feel free to reach out.

In addition to being known as damn-near fireproof, Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel is also known for its resident ghost girl. Visitors and staff have described hearing the faint laughter of a child echoing through the halls, often accompanied by cold spots. Some visitors have reported feeling an unseen presence watching them or the sensation of a small hand brushing against their own. There are also reports of a piano playing soft music from another room, only to be empty upon inspection. Doors also open on their own, and sometimes shadows are seen moving across walls.

The Ghost Girl of Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel

Back in the inn's early days, when the fur trade was king and tempers burned hotter than a hearth fire, there were two traders in Old Montreal staying at Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel. One was an old-timer set in his ways, and the other a sharp young upstart. The old man, a veteran trader fiercely protective of what he thought was his territory, didn't take kindly to competition.

"Boy," the old man told the young upstart one night, "you're undercutting me, and it's gonna cost you." But the young upstart stood his ground and refused to change his newly thriving business.

That was all it took to light a firestorm in the old man's eyes.

One dark night, the old trader stormed into the inn, knife glinting like the devil's grin. He ran up the stairs and lunged at the young upstart, driving the blade deep. Bleeding and desperate, the young upstart crawled toward the roaring fireplace. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his pouch of gunpowder—his "insurance," they called it—and hurled it into the flames.

The explosion shook the building to its stone bones and knocked the old man to the floor. As the fire leaped from wall to wall, the young upstart grabbed the old man and hurled him into the inferno, where the flames swallowed him whole.

On instinct, clutching his bleeding side, the young upstart felt his way through the smoke. When he busted out of the blaze and staggered out onto the street, his blood ran cold as he realized a little girl was calling out. He turned to find his daughter in the upstairs window, her small face framed by flames, her voice rising above the roar of burning timber.

"Daddy! Help me!"

The young upstart tried to return to the inn, but the heat was too much. And, in the blink of an eye, his daughter's voice died out, and she was gone.

Folks say she never left. Even today, in the dead of the night, after the last guest has gone, you might hear her laughter—soft and sweet and so out of place it raises the hairs on your neck. And sometimes, a faint tune from an old piano the little girl loved drifts through the halls, carrying the scent of smoke with the notes.

And on the anniversary of that fiery night, the inn's phone rings. Anyone who answers it hears a little girl's voice rising above a roar of fire.

"Daddy! Help me!"

Visiting Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel

Okay, that was a pretty dramatic story. The truth is that no one really knows the truth behind the ghost girl of Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel—though there are versions out there similar to what I just told you. If it's true, then it's tragic. But even if it's not, it's a pretty damned good ghost story.

As of writing this, Auberge Le Saint-Gabriel is still bustling centuries after it opened as a tavern. If you find yourself around Montreal, go check it out. But be sure to bring a healthy appetite and an open mind.

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