That’s the literal meaning of masdjid, the Arabic word from which “mosque” is derived. The building of Islamic places of worship has become a matter of controversy in France (Nice’s mayor Jacques Peyrat has been notably hostile to such projects).

Across the country there are few mosques worthy of general interest. One exception is in Fréjus which has its remarkable Missiri mosque. This was built in the late nineteen-twenties to serve African Moslem troops stationed locally. It is a scaled down replica, built of reinforced concrete, of the famous mosque at Djenné in what is now Mali. Set in a park of pine trees, it’s an impressive landmark and worth a visit. It was designated a protected site in 1987

From Reporter 115 - June/July 2006

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