The Grand Mosque

Clay largest sacral building, the largest free-standing building with a brick of dried and one of the most famous buildings in Africa -so in short you can describe The Grand Mosque in Djenné, in central Mali.


Work on the mosque, which we admire today, began in 1906, and ended probably in 1907 or 1909. It is already the next house, which was established in this place. It is believed that the first mosque was built around 1240, several years after the adoption of Islam by the then ruler - Koi Kunboro (1180 year). He handed over his palace to the faithful, who rebuilt it, adding later in the towers and walls. The temple has survived for 1834 years when the founder of the state Fulan -  Seku Amadu ordered to destroy it. According to him, the building was too luxurious and decorated with too much pomp. In its place was built in 1896,modest mosque, leaving only part of the previous with the graves of former African rulers. In later years the building was expandedso that the size and resembled the old temple.


The walls of the Grand Mosque are built of sun-dried clay bricks, called ferey, and the whole is covered with clay also gives the building a sleek look. Protrude from the walls of the building at about 60 cm balls palm. They fulfill a decorative function and alsohelp to avoid cracks on the walls, and during the annual repairs are used for scaffolding. Earthen structures are particularly vulnerable to water, which is why the walls were mounted ceramic troughs that collect rainwater. In addition, the mosque is locatedon a platform measuring 75 to 75 meters and a height of about 3 meters, which protects it from wash the infected area. Roof is covered with only the main building, while other parts of the complex to form an open prayer hall. On the eastern wall of the towerbuilding three large minarets and eighteen small domes. It is a prayer wall, facing towards Mecca.


The first building of the Grand Mosque of Djenné was one of the most important centers of Islam. In a nearby madrassa,thousands of students studying the Koran. Today it is not only a symbol of the city, but also the entire state. In 1988, the historicareas of Djenné, including the The Grand Mosque, have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.