|
Schwetzingen
Castle Garden Mosque - Germany
shared by: www.alkalam.pk
Germany's first mosque can be found in the gardens of
Schwetzingen Castle.
It is designed by French architect Nicolas de Pigage (1723-1796). This is
the
largest oriental style building in a German-speaking country.
Schwetzingen Castle is a palace in the German state (Bundesland) of Baden-
Württemberg. Schwetzingen was the summer residence of the Electors-
Palatine Karl III Philip and Charles Theodore. It is situated in
Schwetzingen,
roughly equidistant from the electors' seats at Heidelberg and Mannheim and
is most notable for its spacious and ornate gardens. It is the principal
venue for
the annual Schwetzingen Festival.
Schwetzingen Castle Mosque (built from 1779 to 1796) is the only surviving
18th
century garden mosque still in existence in Europe. This eye-catching pink
mosque
at Schwetzingen built at a time when the Turkish style was fashionable in
Germany,
built by a French architect for the Prince Elector of the Palatinate as part
of a palace
complex. At first glance, the mosque seems to be something out of a story
from
the Arabian Nights. It combines elements from Moorish Islamic architecture
with
the exoticism of tales from the Arabian Nights.
It is extravagant and ornate and still captures the imagination of visitors
with its east-
ern charm. The interior is also oriental in style with a floor of marble
mosaics. Both
sides of the building are adorned with minarets. The ceiling is decorated
with stucco
work and the cornice is supported by eight pilasters. The walls are
decorated with
paintings and gilding. Inside the priests' chambers reinforce the impression
of a "real"
mosque. Walking through the colonnades with their interplay of light and
shadow is a
delight. Verses from the Qur'an can be found on the outer walls and on the
ceiling of
the dome. It remains closed on Monday.
Unfortunately it was never intended for prayer but later served religious
purposes at
various times. Now you can say with sorrowfully that this is not a mosque
but only
the
mosque style building which uses for a tourism purpose only.
|
Schwetzingen Castle Garden Mosque |
Turkish Style
Schwetzingen Mosque in Germany |
|
