Great Mosque of Kairouan

جامع القيروان الكبير

Ancient religious monument founded in 670 AD that serves as a major architectural model and a historical center for Islamic and secular scholarship. The structure features a vast marble-paved courtyard and a massive defensive minaret. Read more…

Habib M'henni / cc-by-sa-3.0

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Founded in 670 AD by Uqba ibn Nafi, this structure is one of the oldest and most significant Islamic monuments in North Africa. While its origins date back to the 7th century, the current building is primarily a masterpiece of Aghlabid architecture from the 9th century. Historically, it served as a major intellectual hub for both religious scholarship and secular sciences.

The site features a vast marble-paved courtyard surrounded by galleries supported by Roman and Byzantine columns. Architectural highlights include a massive defensive minaret and a large prayer hall. The building is renowned for featuring the first use of the horseshoe arch and housing an ancient wooden minbar.

Situated on the edge of the medina, the complex remains a significant place of worship and a major pilgrimage site. The courtyard and prayer hall, which contains historic prayer carpets, are available for exploration.