Missiri mosque, Military mosque and community center in Fréjus, France
The Missiri mosque is a military building in Fréjus constructed between 1928 and 1930, featuring a square layout with four wings, a central courtyard, and external towers made of reinforced concrete with red plaster covering. The structure with its geometric forms was originally built as a community center for stationed West African soldiers.
The structure was built at the initiative of French officer Captain Abdel Kader Mademba between 1928 and 1930 for Senegalese Tirailleurs stationed in southern France. This period marked a turning point in recognizing the needs of West African military personnel in France.
The name Missiri comes from the Bambara language and reflects the bond between French military forces and West African colonial troops. The building served as a gathering place where soldiers maintained their cultural practices and community traditions.
The building is located on Rue du Malbousquet and is now part of the Navy Museum of Fréjus under French Ministry of Defense management. Visitors should note that this is a protected heritage site and may have certain access limitations.
The interior walls contain unfinished murals depicting scenes of Senegalese soldiers, evidence that the space was originally conceived as a secular community center. These artistic traces tell the story of the lives and experiences of the men who were stationed there.
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