Mosquée de Lyon

Lyon's Grand Mosque (Mosquee de Lyon) is France's sixth Grand Mosque, built in the 1990s and combineing traditional Islamic forms with modern architecture. Groundbreaking took place on June 14, 1992, amid concerns by non-Muslims that a minaret in Lyon would detract from the basilica at Fourviere. Designed by native Lyon architects, the mosque was funded by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries and opened to the public in September 1994. The exterior of the mosque features a facade with Persian arches, a 25-meter-high minaret and a white dome topped with the crescent symbol. The entrance patio is covered by a glass pyramid supported by 230 columns. A mezzanine level was fitted in the prayer room for the women, which overhangs the mihrab, itself decorated with a blue mosaic. The mosque has an information center and regular guided tours provided with cooperation by the Lyon Visitors Bureau.