After observing the stars, the Grande Mosquée de Paris has confirmed the date for the end of Ramadan this Wednesday, April 10. Known as the “little feast”, Eid el-Fitr marks the end of the month of fasting. In addition to its solemn announcements and events, the Grand Mosque is also and above all a place of worship with incredible architecture. Devotees, Parisians, tourists… all marvel at this jewel in the city, so rich in history.
Once upon a time, there was the Grande Mosquée de Paris
Did you know? The foundation stone of the Grande Mosquée de Paris was symbolically laid in 1922, in Tribute to the Muslims who lost their lives in the First World War. In fact, it is one of the oldest mosques in France.
And if you’re passing through the Latin Quarter in the5th arrondissement, why not stop off at the Grande Mosquée de Paris? A true architectural, historical and aesthetic jewel, this mythical place of worship has welcomed important figures such as the Sheikh of al-Azhar and the Dalai Lama. While some gather here to pray, others never tire of strolling through this green oasis.
Admire its sublime gardens, sip mint tea and be captivated by its gold-thread dyes, Persian carpets and ceramic friezes… There are a thousand things to see and feel at the Grande Mosquée de Paris. A veritable garden of delights, where you can enjoy a timeless interlude.
The treasures of the Great Mosque
But which spaces make up the mythical Grande Mosquée de Paris? Here you’ll find a prayer room, a school known in Arabic as a “madrassa” and a library full of bound Korans, with the names of God and the Prophet calligraphied in gold letters. There’s also a conference room, beautiful gardens, a restaurant, a hammam, a store selling traditional Arab objects and a tea room. In fact, in the heart of the latter, you can enjoy the best mint tea in Paris. It goes wonderfully well with loukoum and other succulent pastries with an Oriental flavour.
The gardens of the Great Mosque, a green setting
While the exterior of the Grande Mosquée de Paris is rather sober, with its long, immaculate walls, some wouldn’t dare imagine the verdant setting it shelters within. A veritable green lung, the garden of the Grande Mosquée de Paris was inspired by the finest Andalusian gardens. The lapping water of its majestic fountains, its marble basins and its 5 palm trees – symbols of the 5 pillars of Islam – will offer you an enchanting interlude.
The Grande Mosquée de Paris, a place steeped in history
The Great Mosque is a place steeped in history. Built on the site of the former Hôpital de la Pitié, founded in 1612, it became the neighbor of the Jardin des Plantes in Paris. The foundation stone was laid in 1922. On July 15, 1926, the Grande Mosquée de Paris was inaugurated in the presence of then President Gaston Doumergue and the Sultan of Morocco, Moulay Youssef. Gaston Doumergue asserts that the Republic protects all beliefs, as attested by the constitutional principle of secularism. On this day in 1926, a French minister even said ” When the minaret you are going to build on this square rises above the roofs of the city, it will only be one more prayer to the beautiful shaded sky of the Ile-de-France, and the Catholic towers of Notre-Dame will not be jealous of it.” In this sense, the inauguration of the Grande Mosquée de Paris sets the seal on Franco-Muslim friendship.
Breathtaking architecture
This Hispano-Moorish-style mosque topped by a 33-metre minaret is impressive. In the 1920s, the Mairie de Paris donated several hectares to this mythical place of worship, to pay tribute to the 70,000 Muslims who died for France in the First World War. The zelliges on the patio are colorful, geometric earthenware mosaics made by Moroccan artisans from Fez and Meknes, using traditional materials. The minaret – manara in Arabic – an architectural element of mosques, towers over 33 m high. It was inspired by the Zitouna mosque in Tunisia.
Its majestic cedar wood door is entirely decorated with verses from the Koran in kufic calligraphy, handcrafted by Moroccan artisans. The marble floor in the main hall is equally impressive, as are the gold-threaded stains on the walls. Persian carpets, ceramic friezes, green tile roof… So many noble, crafted materials contribute to making the Great Mosque exceptional.
La Grande Mosquée de Paris, 2bis Place du Puits de l’Ermite, 75005 Paris
Photo à la UNE: ©Dessinateurs & @lukhnry