Ibn-Badiss Mosque

Ibn-Badiss Mosque keeps a low-key address at 82 rue des Carmes, in the old town of Orléans, a short walk from Place du Martroi and Sainte-Croix cathedral. It welcomes residents of the city centre for the five daily prayers and Friday prayer.

Getting there

De Gaulle tram station, where lines A and B meet, is about a five-minute walk away. From Orléans-Centre train station, count roughly ten minutes on foot down rue de la République and then along rue des Carmes. TAO bus lines running along the Mail complete the service. By car, the Cheval-Rouge and Munster covered car parks are less than five minutes on foot, and on-street parking is very limited on rue des Carmes.

The neighbourhood

The Carmes area belongs to the historic core of Orléans, marked by its old houses, narrow streets and medieval heritage still visible around Place du Martroi. The Mail de la Charpenterie, a stone's throw away, hosts markets and the Johannic festivities in early May. Rue de Bourgogne, a few minutes away, concentrates halal butchers, restaurants and Middle-Eastern grocers. The banks of the Loire, just downhill, offer a riverside walk.

Practical advice for a visit

The hall is modest in size, matching the scale of the neighbourhood. Friday noon attendance fills the venue, a first visit runs more smoothly on another day. Shoes come off at the entrance, women cover their hair, clothes should cover shoulders and legs. Quiet is expected from the door. The street is narrow, so foot or public transport is the better approach.

Other mosques in Orléans

Two other Muslim places of worship are located in Orléans: Assounah Mosque in the Argonne district to the north-east, and Annour Mosque on rue Jules Ferry, in the La Source district south of the Loire. The AMF Cultural Center in Fleury-les-Aubrais and the mosque of Saint-Jean-de-Braye can be reached by tram or car in under fifteen minutes.