FRANCE

Halal-friendly vacations

Paris is home to the largest number of Muslims in the European Union, with its Seine-Saint-Denis district having the most mosques, schools and Islamic associations. The number of Muslims in the population of Marseille is 20%. The Muslim population in France is mostly found in the east and south of France.

Nimes, in Languedoc-Roussillon, a city bordering Provence and the Balearic Sea, is a point of interest for Muslims perhaps the ancient city, rich with vestiges of the Middle Ages. Stroll through the medieval streets and make your way to the Porte d'Espagne, which is near three Muslim tombs dating back to 719. This, along with new research, indicates the presence of Islam in France since the year 650.

The Quai Branly Museum in Paris, with its collections from North Africa and the Near East, is linked with the colonial history of France and houses a million objects from the territories colonized by France . They include objects from North Africa and the Near East, intertwined with Islamic stories about their making. Discover the complex history of Islam and France through this educational experience.

The Arab World Institute in Paris is an ideal place for Muslims during their stay in Paris. It is a complex offering festivities and activities for everyone, a museum, a movie theater, shows, restaurants, cafes and workshops with regular program change. Book one of the hotels in the Latin Quarter for easy access to the Arab World Institute.

The Muslim Center of Marseille offers events and activities designed for the public. The “S'il te plaît dessine-moi un livre" ("Please Draw Me a Book”) program teaches Muslim families and children about environmental stewardship. Each year The Annual Meeting of Muslims from the South allows Muslims to establish contacts. The center houses the Zitouna bookstore, which sells Islamic books and habits and more. This center is a place to visit for all Muslims who are looking for a cultural vacation.

The French Institute of Muslim Civilization in Lyon frequently houses Islamic art, literature, music and cinema. It is a cultural and ideal place for halal tourism in France. The building is surrounded by geometric patterns of traditional art and the architecture echoes the architecture of the Islamic world. The institute organizes calligraphy, poetry and philosophy workshops for the public.

The Islamic Arts Department of the Louvre Museum, one of the most renowned museums in the world in Paris, has dedicated a collection with nearly 3000 Islamic objects on display for the benefit of its visitors. This department allows Muslim travelers to immerse themselves in the stories of their ancestors and to understand the Islamic relationship between France and Islam.

France is home to around 2,300 mosques or prayer facilities for a population of around 5.7 million Muslims. You will find a place to pray in all the cities of France and the mosques take women and children into consideration. Stroll around the mosque areas because most of the time you will find halal shops, cafes and restaurants there.

• Grand Mosque of Paris
  The Grand Mosque of Paris is a capsule of the Islamic world, nestled in the very center of Paris. It was completed in 1926, after years of planning and negotiations between the French and Moroccan authorities. Its architecture is a beautiful mix of white and green (the colors of Islam) and an ode to the Kairaouine Mosque in Fez and the Zaytuna Mosque in Tunis.

• Great Mosque of Strasbourg
  The Great Mosque of Strasbourg on the banks of the Ill river is the largest mosque in France and looks like a flower in full bloom. It is a modern conception of Islam in France and is open for prayer and the teaching of Muslim children, hosting many conferences for the public and tourists.

• Great Mosque of Lyon
  The architecture of the Grand Mosque of Lyon is a mixture of rich influences from the Muslim world and is a proof of multicultural beauty. This combines traces of the Maghreb with the roots of France and even influences from Persia. The mosque was financed by a king of Saudi and designed by two people from Lyon.

• Great Mosque of Argenteuil
  Also nicknamed Al-Ihsan Mosque, it is located in Argenteuil, northwest of Paris, and hosts 2,300 worshippers. Its Moorish style building gives the impression of a building in the middle of the desert. A visit on Friday will be exciting and a great getaway for the family.

• Great Mosque of Toulouse
  The Grand Mosque of Toulouse is a magnificent building in its presence and purpose. The Al-Azhari Institute, which is located in the Grand Mosque, propagates the teachings of Islam and Arabic.