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FRANCE

How to Visit the Grand Mosque of Paris

A nature oasis in the heart of Paris.

 

Updated March 22, 2024

FRANCE

How to Visit the Grand Mosque of Paris

A nature oasis in the heart of Paris.

Updated March 22, 2024

The Grand Mosque of Paris is one of the most unique places to visit in the city.

The impressive structure occupies an entire city block. It features prayer rooms, Turkish baths, an outdoor garden, a library, a gift shop, and a tearoom and restaurant. The Grand Mosque of Paris (Grande Mosquée de Paris in French) is the oldest and biggest mosque in mainland France. Groundbreaking began in 1922, officially making it a century old. 

Of course, visitors are not allowed inside the prayer rooms. Most visitors go to experience its tranquil garden oasis.

A fountain surrounded by turquoise tiles and hidden behind lush greenery.

Being inside the mosque's garden is to be transported somewhere far from Paris.

An ornate, brown wooden door surrounded by purple wisteria flowers and tiled floors.

The Grand Mosque is beautiful all year round.

A bit of history

The Grand Mosque was a gift to the Muslim community after the first World War in honor of the Muslim soldiers who died protecting France.

Little known to the general public, the mosque was built on a labyrinth of caverns. These rooms and tunnels were left over from an excavation by the city of Paris in search of building stones.

In World War II, Muslim freedom fighters used the passageways as a resistance site during the Nazi occupation. Jewish friends and family were hidden underground and given papers declaring that they were of Muslim faith and had a membership to the mosque, in hopes of avoiding persecution.

Sources vary greatly on how many Jewish people were housed and saved in the mosque. Some say a few dozen while others say hundreds.

So not only is it of great historical significance, but it continues to be an impressive structure proudly promoting the visibility of Islam in France.

A white pathway connecting two sides of the garden.

The mosque's outdoor garden was exploding with greenery when I went.

How to get there

The Grand Mosque is located at 2bis Place du Puits de l'Ermite in the 5th arrondissement.

As always, I'm a fan of taking the metro. Take metro line 7 to the station Censier-Daubenton. Use exit 2: rue Monge. From there, it's about a 5-minute walk away.

When to visit

For guests, the highlight of your visit will likely be the garden oasis of the mosque's garden. As such, the best times to visit are in spring and summer when everything is green and the flowers are in bloom.

Just keep in mind that the Grand Mosque is one of the most well-known places in Paris to see wisteria in the spring. It will be absolutely mobbed by photographers and selfie-takers (and rightly so), so keep that in mind when planning your visit.

Otherwise, the mosque tends to be pretty quiet, especially if you visit right when it opens in the morning.

Wisteria hangs from a lush bush over an archway inside the garden.

This is from a visit in April when the wisteria was at its best!

Roses in front of wisteria.

Roses in the mosque's main garden.

Hours & Cost

The mosque is open to visitors daily except on Fridays. Closed on Muslim holidays.

Summer hours: 9am - 12am & 2pm - 7pm.
Winter hours: 9am - 12am & 2pm - 6pm.

Tickets are €3 and €2 for students with proof of ID. Bring cash AND card. I've been when they've only accepted cash because their machine was broken, and I've been when they only accept card due to a high volume of visitors. 

Dress code

Be sure your knees and shoulders are covered before entering the mosque. Open-toed shoes are okay. If you're visiting on a hot day when you can't fathom the idea of wearing covering clothing, I'd recommend bringing your own scarf to cover up upon entering the mosque.

If you are not dressed appropriately, a staff member at the entrance will ask you to take one of the cloths offered at the entrance to drape around your legs or shoulders. Remember to return it at the end of your visit.

I am posed in the foreground just in front of a fountain that's taller than me. The garden plants and minaret are behind me.

I opted for a long skirt that covered my knees and a shirt that hid my shoulders.

The minaret can be seen peaking out from bright green leaves bursting in the foreground.

The mosque's minaret peaking through wisteria leaves.

Inside the mosque

A large, white patio space with a removable covered ceiling.

The central patio has a large retractable roof.

A keyhole shaped arch leads out to the garden.

Keyhole arches, also known as Moorish arches, are symbols of Islamic architecture.

As you enter the mosque, you'll be surrounded by gorgeous mosaics and keyhole arches. Keyhole arches, also known as Moorish arches, are emblematic of Islamic architecture. Pass through one and head out into the mosque's magnificent garden.

The spectacular garden

A fountain is centered in the frame with blue mosaic tiles lining the ground.

Beautiful teal tiles cover the garden's floor.

The garden is lush and green with many layers of trees, plants, and flowers. The minaret is in the background.

Spring and summer really are the best times to visit; it's so lush!

Arguably the best part of visiting the Grand Mosque is its extensive outdoor garden. Filled with ornate marble mosaics and turquoise tiles, it's a true paradise.

From inside the garden, you'll get a clear view of the 108 feet tall (33 meters) minaret. The minaret was modeled off of the Zitouna Mosque's minaret in Tunisia. The rest of the worship site was modeled off of a mosque in Fez, Morocco.

Take a stroll along the emerald paths and enjoy the blissful feeling of being somewhere far beyond the city of Paris.

White tiles cover the ground. There's a small pool in the center with foliage surrounding the building to the right of the frame.

The entrance to the garden.

A little-known fact about me: I'm kind of obsessed with mosques. The call to prayer is one of my favorite sounds in the world, be it in France, Morocco, Turkey, or Thailand. I'm not religious, but there is something incredibly powerful about a single, melodic voice being carried through the wind. It'll send a chill down your spine.

I'm equally mesmerized by the geometry and intricacies of the colorful mosaics. I wish my entire house could look like that.

The garden is an ideal place to take photos, so remember to bring your camera. On the topic of what to bring, I'd also suggest a pair of sunglasses. In direct sunlight, some of the tiles can be blinding.

A small subset of the garden down a half set of stairs.

It's truly a garden oasis.

Much as I loved my experience of visiting the Grand Mosque, it saddened me to see many of the garden's tiles missing or in disrepair. Several of the fountains were also looking pretty rough.

After being shut down at the height of the pandemic, I hope that its reopening will allow for the necessary restorations. I don't think it took much away from my visit overall - I just hope the space gets the facelift it deserves!

I am centered in the frame overlooking the garden under white archways.

Overlooking part of the mosque's outdoor garden, surrounded by colorful mosaics.

A small pool of water in front of the minaret.

A small pool of water at the entrance to the garden.

The tearoom

My mint tea is in the far bottom left corner of the frame on a small, circular table. The table is overlooking the rest of the cafe, which is down a half set of stairs that lead to the entrance.

Stop at the Grand Mosque's tearoom for a delicious Moroccan-style mint tea.

After your visit to the mosque, head over to the tearoom for a Moroccan-style mint tea.

This is something that I miss from Morocco! For a small fee, my lovely riad host in Marrakech would prepare mint tea for me to sip on the roof as I watched the sun go down over the medina.

It's still one of my all-time favorite drinks. It's sweet yet refreshing, and a must-have for your visit.

The Grand Mosque of Paris has a fascinating and rich history with strong ties to both world wars. It continues to be a symbol of pride and visibility for the Muslim community in Paris.

For guests, it can be the perfect retreat into nature and a way to experience the beauty of a culture perhaps different from your own. Remember to be respectful during your visit, as it is first and foremost a place of worship.

Visiting the Grand Mosque really is a unique experience in Paris and one I highly recommend. I hope this has inspired you to take a trip. Enjoy your visit!

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2 Comments

  1. Iziane Yahya says:
    February 15, 2025 at 00:05

    Hi. Im Izy. Thank you for sharing your experience visiting mosque in Paris. Im a muslim from Malaysia travelling to Paris. So when i was searching for mosque i came across your blog. If you do really love azan ( muslim call prayer) and love mosque then you should come visit Malaysia. Malaysia is a muslim country with multi races and multicultural. Malaysia also has so many mosques. You may try to google it. Hope someday you will travel to Malaysia and delves into the beauty of my country. Have a great day.

    Reply
    • Meredith Chadwick says:
      April 26, 2025 at 07:05

      Thanks for your comment, Izy, I’m glad you liked the post 🙂 Malaysia is certainly high on my list. I lived in Thailand for a year and somehow never made it that far south!

      Reply

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