Grande mosquée de Toulouse, house of prayer in Toulouse, France

The Grande Mosquée de Toulouse is a mosque in the Empalot neighbourhood, south of the city centre. The building covers 2,111 m² on a 1,304 m² plot across three levels, with a mezzanine serving as the women's prayer room. Its rectangular minaret draws on Almohad models, and the interior Kufic calligraphy follows Andalusian architecture. The architect was Christian Barthe.

The Great Mosque of Toulouse opened on 23 June 2018 in the Empalot neighbourhood, south of the city centre. Its construction was funded mainly by a 13-year fundraising campaign by the neighbouring Al-Nour Mosque, founded in 1989, with contributions from the French state, Algeria (€213,000) and Kuwait (€131,000). The imam Mohamed Tataï refused donations from Muammar Gaddafi in 2006 and 2007. The architect was Christian Barthe.

The mosque brings together people from the local Muslim community for daily prayers and religious celebrations like Eid. The interior decoration featuring Kufic calligraphy and Andalusian design elements creates a space where tradition finds expression in the modern city.

The mosque stands in the Empalot neighbourhood in the south of Toulouse, not in the city centre. It has three prayer halls, one reserved for women, plus a mezzanine prayer room, and a Quranic school. Visitors should avoid prayer times and remove shoes in the prayer halls.

The €6 million project was funded largely by a 13-year campaign by the nearby Al-Nour Mosque, founded in 1989, with additions from the French state, Algeria (€213,000) and Kuwait (€131,000). The imam Mohamed Tataï turned down donations from Muammar Gaddafi in 2006 and 2007. Inside, look for Tunisian marble, Turkish rugs and doors, Egyptian chandeliers and Moroccan stucco.