🕌 Tlemcen Grand Mosque
Algeria
About This Sacred Site
The Grand Mosque of Tlemcen is one of the finest examples of Almoravid architecture in the Maghreb. Built in 1136, the mosque features an elaborate mihrab, intricate stucco work, and a richly decorated minbar. Tlemcen was a major center of Islamic learning and Sufi spirituality in medieval North Africa, and the mosque remains a living place of worship. The city also contains the tomb of the Sufi saint Sidi Boumédiène, a major pilgrimage destination.
Key Facts
- •Built in 1136 by the Almoravid dynasty
- •Features an elaborate mihrab and intricate geometric stucco decoration
- •Tlemcen was a major center of Islamic scholarship in medieval North Africa
- •The city also houses the tomb of Sufi saint Sidi Boumédiène (d. 1197)
- •The mosque's minaret rises above the historic medina of Tlemcen
Location
Coordinates: 34.8828, -1.3147
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