“Lost?” someone asks. Maybe. I did not expect to find so many stories at the Mosquée du Pavé Neuf.
Welcome to one of Paris’s hidden gems a place where history and faith intertwine. The Mosquée du Pavé Neuf stands not only as a place of worship but also as a testament to the rich cultural tapestry of this city.
The Grand Mosque of Paris is also known as the Great Mosque of Paris or simply the Paris Mosque. It is one of the largest mosques in France. The mosque is located in the 5th arrondissement of Paris. It includes prayer rooms and an outdoor garden. There is a small library and a gift shop. You can find a cafe and a restaurant too. The mosque plays an important role in promoting Islam. It promotes Muslims in France. It was completed in 1926. It is the oldest mosque in metropolitan France.
Its history is deeply connected to France’s colonization. France colonized large parts of the Muslim world. One of the first projects for a mosque in Paris was recorded in 1842. It was desired to be in the Baujon district. In 1846 the Société orientale proposed a project. It was to build a cemetery a mosque and a Muslim school in Paris. It was also to be built in Marseilles. According to the historian Michel Renard it was for philanthropic reasons. There were political reasons too. Algeria was recently conquered and pacified. There were religious reasons too. Muslims were judged to be closer to Roman Catholicism than Jews. The Ministry of Justice and Religions debated with the National Assembly. The negative reaction shelved the project for ten years.
In 1856 a French Prefectorial decree permitted something. The Ottoman Embassy in Paris could construct a special enclosure. It was reserved for the burial of Muslims. It was in the Parisian Cemetery of the East called Père Lachaise. The enclosure measured about 800 square meters. The Ottomans built a structure labeled as a Mosque. It gave shelter to funerary services. It was for the prayers for the deceased. It was the first mosque constructed on Parisian territory. There was an earlier mosque in Marseille. It was within the boundaries of the Cemetery of the Turks. It had been destroyed during the French Revolution. The cemetery covered the tombs of Ottomans who had died in France. It was little used. In 1883 it was cut down in size. The building fell into disrepair. The Ottoman government financed its reconstruction. In 1914 an architectural design was put forward. It was a prominent building with a dome. It had clear Islamic characteristics. The First World War blocked the project. In 1923 a commission discussed completing a Muslim cemetery in Père Lachaise. It was not practical to build a mosque in the cemetery. They were looking to build a mosque in the district of the Jardin des Plantes.
The first project for a true mosque in Paris was in 1895. The Committee of French Africa set it up. An article in La Presse from 1896 was optimistic about this project. It was for a mosque to be constructed on the Quai d’Orsay. The Ottoman sultan the Viceroy of Egypt and the Sultan of Morocco gave financial support.
Paul Bourdarie justified the construction of the Paris Mosque. He wrote in the newspaper La Revue indigène. He said such a proposal cannot be forgotten. It reflects the political outlook that France ought to follow. It is toward her Muslim sons. It should translate into acts of political equality. It should translate into gestures of sympathy. La Revue indigène put forward plans to resume this project.
The Great Mosque of Paris is more than a landmark. It is a symbol of unity a tribute to history and a vibrant center for the community.