In the chic neighbourhood of the Paris 5th district, bustling with student activity, you can visit the Great Mosque of Paris (Grande Mosquée de Paris), the largest Muslim place of worship in France, inaugurated in 1926, and built in honour of the soldiers who died for France during the first world war. For an affordable price (3€ for the normal rate, 2€ for the reduced rate), visit the building and admire the magnificent Hispano-Moorish architectural style of the Mosque.
If the prayer hall is logically forbidden to visitors, you can take a glance at it and experience its pious atmosphere. You can also freely wander through the corridors of the Mosque, and take a careful look to the mosaics that decorate them: the craftwork is a fabulous one, and you will forget that you are in Paris, travelling for an instant to a place between Fez and Mecca. Then, carry on your oriental journey with the pretty central garden, dominated by the Minaret.
When you get out, walk around the Mosque to enjoy its architecture from the outside, and particularly the Islamic style gates. If you liked the place, you can also taste gourmet oriental flavours in the Mosque restaurant, located at 39, Rue Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire. For those who wish to be fully initiated, the Café Maure also offers beauty care, massage and hammam.
