At the heart of the building is a great courtyard surrounded by colonnades containing mosaics and arches with delicate fretwork. The courtyard makes use of scented eucalyptus and cedar wood and is modelled on the Alhambra in Granada. Once used by scholars, the mosque has grown to become
the spiritual heart of the city’s Muslim population. It is also home to the Grand Imam. Each of the mosque’s domes is decorated in a different style, and the white-walled, green-roofed complex is crowned by a minaret rising 33 metres (108 feet) into the air. Made of reinforced concrete, the mosque is beautifully decorated with mosaics, faience and wrought iron. The plaster moulding and wood carvings feature Islamic calligraphy.
The mosque forms part of a larger complex that houses religious, educational and commercial facilities and even has a Hammam, or Turkish bath, which can be enjoyed by men and women on alternate days. There is also a lovely tearoom serving Moorish specialities.
Mosquée de Paris
Tearoom and Turkish baths
Tel: 01. 43 31 38 20
Mosquée de Paris
Jardin des Plantes
111
