The Great Mosque, an architectural jewel steeped in history

During Ramadan, the Great Mosque of Taza, one of the most imposing in North Africa, welcomes the faithful in an atmosphere of fervour and piety, particularly for the Al-Isha prayer and the religious vigils (Tarawih) of this month of fasting and devotion.Men, women, and children respond five times a day to the call of the muezzin of this mosque, built in the 12th century during the Almohad dynasty, which has since enjoyed a very special regard among the inhabitants of the city of Taza. As soon as one crosses one of the nine doors of this mosque, the gaze is drawn to its large chandelier, an exceptional work of Muslim bronzework installed upon the completion of the mosque's construction in 694 AH. Weighing 3.2 tonnes, this chandelier has 514 chalices or cups that were intended to hold oil.This chandelier is also astonishing for its dimensions: it measures nearly four metres in height by t…