A Touch of the East: the Grand Mosque of Paris
Nowadays, religion is not exactly a main concern for most Parisian–what with all the fashion, food and politics to think about. Despite the decidedly secular mood in today’s French capital, the place is steeped in religious tradition. It’s hard to walk more than a block in Paris without crossing a street, hospital, or Frenchmen for that matter, named after a Christian Saint. But France’s twentieth-century melting pot is not all crosses and gothic architechture. Muslims have long called Paris home and as New York Habitat discovered, they too have a long tradition in the City of Light. Were not telling anyone to skip the visit to Notre Dame, but the Grand Mosque of Paris is one of the most beautiful buildings of its kind in the West.
La Grande Mosquée de Paris was built way back in 1926 and, like the city’s famed Christian cathedrals, is a Paris must see. Constructed in traditional North African design, the mosque is a stunning piece of foreign architecture planted among rows of typical French buildings. It serves as a reminder of both the French colonial past and France’s substantial Muslim community.
Contained within the enormous structure is the Café de la Mosquée, a charming space where Parisians relax with a delicious mint tea among sprouting fig trees, a fountain, and billowing hookah smoke. The café attracts mature, laid-back crowds and contains a certain authenticity rarely found in run-of-the-mill hookah joints.
New York Habitat has many accommodation options just a short walking distance from this attraction, its café and the rest of the Left Bank.
This Studio in Mouffetard, St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame (PA-3188) has hardwood floors, exposed wood beams and Moroccan inspired tiling in the kitchen.- This building housing this studio apartment in Quartier Latin, St Michel - St Germain- Notre Dame (PA-3548) dates back to the 17th century and also sports exposed wood beams and some interesting tiles.
- For the same convenience but a bit more space take a look at this 2 bedroom vacation rental accommodation in Port Royal, St Michel - St Germain - Notre Dame (PA-3126), an apartment with great rooftop views and classic French touches.
The French may have distanced themselves personally from a less secular past, but there might not be another city in the world that can match Paris’ tradition of diverse religious architecture.
Related apartment rental posts from New York Habitat:
- Revisiting the Monde Arabe in Paris
- Franco-Arabe Culture in the Heart of the 5th arrondissement in Paris
- Crossing the River Seine with New York Habitat
- New York Habitat’s Favorite Paris Views
- Paris Pub Crawl: Literary Pubs, our last stop: Montparnasse
February 14th, 2008 at 1:18 pm
The Grand Mosque cafe sounds really tempting! St. Michel/ Notre Dame is nice but can get crowded, so it would be nice to get away. I also really want to go to a Hammam in Paris.
March 3rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
The Grand Mosque is indeed a beautiful building in Paris that is unknown from most tourists. For those who are renting an apartment in the left bank and who would like to know more about the oriental cultures, I advise to go to the IMA (Institute of Arab World) which always have very interesting exhibitions.
April 7th, 2008 at 10:46 am
I agree with Veronica, one should def. try the Hammam in Paris. it is unfortunate that they do not have one here (US) like that. although it is not as authentic as Hammams in Marocco, Hammam in Paris are close. Women only, hot bathes, sauna/steam room, you get a lady to exfoliate your body and massage and everything ends with a cup of hot mint tea and biscuit. and it’s not expensive! this is a great way to experience the Arab influence in Paris.