Built in the 1920s to pay tribute to the 70,000 Muslim soldiers who died for France in the First World War, the Grand Mosque of Paris, not far from the Garden of Plants (Jardin des Plantes) in the 5th arrondissement, near the Place Monge and Censier - Daubenton Metro stations, is the oldest mosque in metropolitan France. Dominated by an elegant minaret 33 metres tall, this vast building complex in the Hispano-Moresque style, a listed historic monument, contains a magnificent patio lined by sculpted arcades, inspired by the Alhambra in Granada, Andalusia. Open to visitors every day except Friday (the day of prayer), the Grand Mosque also invites you to discover its impressive prayer room with many columns, adorned with sumptuous carpets and a monumental chandelier. The mosque is a place of contemplation and prayer for the Muslim community, but also a place of relaxation with a tearoom selling delicious pastries, a restaurant famed for its tagines and couscous, a shop reminiscent of the souks in the Maghreb, and even a hammam! For women only, the latter is an ideal way to forget the stress of the day and enjoy the benefits of a steam bath.
Meaux
