Europe’s Magnificent Mosques
One of the most popular activities in Europe is visiting Cathedrals. But did you know that Europe also boasts a large collection of amazing Mosques and that many of them are open to the public, just as the Cathedrals are? Most are found in Spain, where the Moors ruled for centuries and in south-eastern Europe, which was Ottoman Turkish territory. But with the recent influx of Muslims into Europe, there are Mosques being built everywhere from Berlin, Germany to Reykjavik, Iceland. Here are a few worth visiting:
Ali Pasha’s Mosque, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Listed by Lonely Planet as one of the most top ten cities to visit in 2010, Sarajevo is so famous for its mix of Islam, Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Judaism that it has often been called the “Jerusalem of Europe.” Standing out among many amazing Churches, Synagogues and Mosques is Ali Pasha’s Mosque, which was constructed during the rule of the Ottoman Turks in 1561 by Hadim Ali-pasha, the former Ottoman governor of the Budapest administrative district and the Bosnia Pashaluk. Built in the classical Istanbul architectural style, the Mosque features a large dome to cover the central prayer area and three smaller domes to cover the cloister. Unfortunately, the Mosque was heavily damaged by Serbian forces during the war in the 1990s – much like the rest of the city – but it was lovingly restored in 2004 and 2005, which led to its inclusion on the list of National Monuments of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Banya Bashi Mosque, Sofia, Bulgaria
Completed just 15 years later in 1576, the Banya Bashi Mosque gets its name (“Many Baths”) from the natural thermal spas that it was built over. It is possibly the only Mosque in the world that boasts steam rising from vents in the ground just outside the walls. You’ll be impressed by the size of the dome and the beauty of the minaret as it rises to the sky. You’ll be impressed by the beauty of the tile work. This is also an active Mosque, used by the nearly 9,000 Muslims living in the city, so you can only go inside when there are not services being performed. In a city once boasting over 70 Mosques, the Banya Bashi is actually Sofia’s only active Mosque. It was closed under Communist rule and opened and restored after the fall of the Iron Curtain.
La Mezquita, Córdoba, Spain
Moving from the Ottomans to the Moors, we now go to one of the most impressive places of worship on the planet, the famous Mezquita of Córdoba. A Cathedral since the Reconquista in 1236 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this was once the second largest Mosque in the world, and its forest of 856 columns is a sight you will never forget. The use of this spot as a religious site predates the Mosque. Before construction started in 784 (and additions that spanned the next 200 years) it was the Visigoth St. Vincent’s Basilica. At some point before that it was a Jewish Synagogue and before that a Roman Temple. Unfortunately the conquering Christians destroyed the centre of the Mosque and replaced it with a chapel, which is actually quite lovely, but also quite misplaced. Still the remaining columns, made of jasper, onyx, marble, and granite and some coming from Córdoba’s Roman buildings, create a magical atmosphere not replicated anywhere else in the world.
The Grande Mosquée de Paris
Located in the romantic 5th arrondissement, the Grande Mosquée de Paris is the largest mosque in France and the third largest in Europe. Unlike the Mosques in Sarajevo, Córdoba and Sofia, this is a 20th century affair, built after World War I as a sign of France’s gratitude to the the help of the Muslims in the French colonies, 100,000 of whom died fighting against Germany. Its rich history also encompasses World War II, when it served as a secret refuge for those persecuted by the occupying Germans, providing fake Muslim birth certificates for Jewish children. Built in the Mudéjar style, full of mosaics, wood carvings and wrought iron from Morocco, the Mosque’s gorgeous interiors could are reminiscent of the Alhambra in Granada. The Mosque is an active place of worship for North Africans living in Paris, and tours are given of the building, its central courtyard, and its Moorish garden. The marble Turkish baths are also quite popular, as is the couscous and sweet mint tea at the Muslim Restaurant de la Mosquée de Paris.
The Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, Gibraltar
Officially inaugurated in 1997, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim Mosque, also known as the King Fahd bin Abdulaziz al-Saud Mosque perfectly represents the history of the Muslim presence in Europe. The southernmost Mosque on the continent, the Ibrahim-al-Ibrahim was built to accommodate the new Muslim population in a location just a few metres from the Roman Catholic Shrine of Our Lady of Europe, which itself started out as a Mosque until the Muslims were expelled from the continent in the 15th century. Boasting a school, a library and a lecture hall, the Mosque also boasts fantastic views of the mountains of Morocco from its perch at Europa Point. It’s one of the largest Mosques in a non-Muslim country and an underwater cistern right next to it dates back to the age of the Moors, cementing the relationship between past and present.
Accommodations
Seeing these cultural treasures is made easier when you stay in a local hotel, and there are many hotels from which to choose, whether you’re in Sarajevo, Sofia, Córdoba, Paris or Gibraltar.
