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Constructed in 1926, the mosque of Paris is
situated behind the Institut du Monde Arab (Arab Institute) and is the
oldest mosque in France.
Built by Arab artisans and three French architects, the funding for the
mosque's construction was given by the French Government to the French
Arab community as a token of French appreciation for North African
assistance during the First World War. Keeping in mind that the majority
of France's Muslim community have North African roots, the mosque is
appropriately North African in flavor.
The architecture is Moorish and is inspired by the
famous Alhambra
in Spain. White walled exteriors are interspersed with exquisite mosaics
and the central minaret rises to a height of almost 100 feet. The
woodwork adorning the mosques internal courtyards is stunningly carved
and the dark color of the wood - eucalyptus and cedar - contrasts
beautifully with the white exterior.
While the prayer hall is not excessively large the
unusual layout of the mosque gives it an open, airy feel. Several small
courtyards, each with finely kept gardens, provide areas of privacy and
seclusion. Inside the mosque lies a tomb for the first Imam of the
mosque - a man who during Hitler’s advance on the city of Paris
hid over 200 Jews in the basement thereby saving them from life or death
at concentration camps.
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