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La
Mosque de Paris
Paris,
France
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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