École Nationale de la France d'Outre-Mer, Colonial administration school in 6th arrondissement, France.
École Nationale de la France d'Outre-Mer is a school building at 2 Avenue de l'Observatoire featuring Moorish Revival architecture with decorative details inspired by Moroccan traditions. The structure combines functional education spaces with distinctive visual elements that set it apart from typical Parisian institutional buildings.
Founded in 1885 as Mission Cambodienne, the school became École Coloniale in 1888 and received its final name in 1934. These successive changes reflect how France's approach to its overseas territories evolved over the decades.
The building reflects France's historical connection to its overseas territories through its Moroccan Revival style, which echoes the global links of that era. Walking through the space, you sense how architecture was used to express imperial ambitions and cultural exchange.
The building sits in a central Paris neighborhood and is easy to reach when exploring the area. Keep in mind that this is an active institution, so access to interior spaces may be limited to exterior viewing and general observation.
Visitors often call this building the 'old mosque' informally, a nickname that comes from its striking Moorish architecture. The structure housed artworks by Charles Lameire and Claude Bourgonnier until these were removed in the 1970s.
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