Founded in 800 AD, the town of Djenne in central Mali, is one of sub-Saharan Africa's oldest cities. The Great Mosque of Djenné is a historical structure that is locally maintained and the fact that it was named a UNESCO world heritage site means it will be preserved in that state, making it a great place to visit especially for historians. The current Great Mosque of Djenne, although a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the great architectural wonders of Africa, is not the original mosque of Djenne. This rich history means that there is Photo credit. The Great Mosque of Djenné was the largest of these undertakings. As such, Djenné, Djenné-Jeno, and other nearby archaeological sites were collectively designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. When French forces led by Louis Archinard captured Djenné in April 1893, he demolished Seku Amadu’s mosque and instead built a school in its place, while the original mosque was reconstructed to its current form. Annual repair of the mosque is almost a festival and the entire community of Djenné takes an active role in it. Djenné is known for its remarkable earth architecture and well-preserved urban fabric, for which the town was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. In the days leading up to the festival, the plaster is prepared in pits. Largely forgotten by the outside world, it hit prominence in 2012 when a rebellion by separatists and islamic militants threatened to take down the whole country. The Great Mosque of Djenné, Mali, is a magnet for tourists, but it is increasingly difficult for locals to live a normal life around it. kinda made of mud. It requires several days to cure but needs to be periodically stirred, a task usually falling to young boys who play in the mixture, thus stirring up the contents. Join Young Pioneer Tours on one of our signature African adventures in Eritrea, Somaliland, or Socotra (with new destinations being added all the time), or let us plan an independent trip for you. The historic areas of Djenné, including the Great Mosque, were designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. The Great Mosque of Djenne is a fascinating feat of architecture with unique features. So, we have covered the fact that it is one of the most famous mosques in the world, but why? All Rights Reserved. It's a gem of Mali. Djenné has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.UNESCO says on its website that "Djenné became a market centre and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade." Then why not join our tour extensions in North Korea or China? A set of six stairs, each decorated with pinnacles, leads to the mosque’s entrance. The Great Mosque of Djenne, sometimes known as the Grand Mosque of Djenne, is the most famous tourist attraction in Mali and probably the most unique mosque in the world. We have also made it possible for various media and film companies to visit and film – not only in North Korea, but to many other of our destinations. Empires famously rise and fall and Mali is a great example of this. Have you got what it takes? Djenné is a city in Mali, famous for its mosque, which is the biggest mudbrick building in the world.As of 1987, the city had a population of 12,000. Have a question about travelling to North Korea? Join one of our many Group Adventures through the Central-Asian Stans (including Afghanistan), or let us plan an independent trip for you from our office Almaty, Kazakhstan. Djenné is a town and an urban commune in the Inland Niger Delta region of central Mali. The insensitive photographs of semi-naked women horrified the mullahs and non believers have been denied access ever since. It also has various other features to beautify the structure, making it much more than what you might think of as a building made of “mud”. Feel free to get in contact with us if you have anymore enquiries. In fact, UNESCO designated the structure and its surrounding town a World Heritage Site in 1988. Photo credit. Young Pioneer Tours are the leading budget adventure travel company to off the wall, and off the beaten track destinations. The first mosque on the site was built around the 13th century, but the current structure dates from 1907. The town is the administrative centre of the Djenné Cercle, one of the eight subdivisions of the Mopti Region. Our tours are very flexible in terms of itinerary, interests and we can cater to your budget too! His passion is opening obscure destinations to tourism and sharing his experience of street food. As well as being the center of the community of Djenné, it is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa. UNESCO World Heritage Centre. More than 4000 volunteers are coming to help to repair the Mosque. © Amusing Planet, 2020. The Great Mosque in Djenné, Mali, a revered religious monument constructed almost entirely from sun-dried mud bricks coated with clay, is undergoing a restoration that … The most notable structure in the city is the Great Mosque , which is the largest mud construction in the world and recognized as an outstanding example of Sudanese and Sahelian architecture. We currently run one group tour per year to Mali as well as offering independent travel to the country. Nowadays Mali is one of the poorest countries on earth, but it was formerly the mighty Mali Empire. The Great Mosque of Djenné , the tallest historical mud mosque in the sub-Saharan region is considered by many to be the greatest achievement of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style, In Djenné, the entire community takes an active role in the mosque’s maintenance via a unique annual festival. The Great Mosque s signature trio of minarets overlooks the central market of Djenné. It was only then that many people even realized Timbuktu was a real place….. Check out our great links, or get in touch and let us plan your extension for you. Come see it! Djenné is well known for its distinctive adobe architecture. There was another much older mosque in this site built around the 13th century, but by the 19th century the mosque fell into disrepair and abandoned to thousands of swallows, which build their nests in it. The building is considered to be one of the greatest achievements of the Sudano-Sahelian architectural style. Gareth Johnson is the founder of Young Pioneer Tours and has visited over 150+ countries. When you consider how many mosques there are, that is quite the statement. great architecture. Djénné is an ancient city and the UNESCO Site in Mali , Africa . Young Pioneer Tours. It was also home to the legendary “city of riches Timbuktu” from where the idiom “from here to Timbuktu” originates. Check out our International Group Tours and book your next adventure of a lifetime. and 61 cm (24 in.) {{posts[0].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[1].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[2].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[3].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, Bolton Strid: A Stream That Swallows People, Pitch Drop Experiment: The World’s Longest Running Lab Experiment, The Barbegal Mills: The Largest Concentration of Mechanical Energy in Antiquity, The Fake Dome of The Church of St. Ignatius, Anatoli Bugorski: The Man Who Stuck His Head Inside a Particle Accelerator. Over the years it was expanded upon and today leaves us with the Great Mosque of Djenné. Djenne and Timbuktu were centres of Islamic scholarship. Toggle Navigation. Annual repair of the world's largest mud brick building the Great Mosque of Djenné in Mali. a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to Mali. The history of Djenné is closely linked with that of Timbuktu. Great Mosque of Djenne, UNESCO World Heritage Site, November 2008 Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images It is also the largest mud brick building in the world. The Great Mosque of Djenne, or any other African odyssey get in touch with our Whilst travel is one of the most rewarding and enjoyable ways to spend your time, arranging your travel can be complicated, stressful and difficult. Hypostyle: Great Mosque - "Djenné's mosque is just an extreme sample of Arabic type hypostyle mosque in contrast, making as many as ninety thick pillars of earth stand densely, causing impossibility to get even a penetrating view of the interior space. The absolute up to date on guide, facts and fun information about where we visit and what we do, Earlier in the year, we held a fan vote for which, Last call for those wanting to start their 2021 in, Christmas elves spotted at the Pyongyang Metro. The mosque used to welcome infidel but in 1996 permission was granted to French Vogue for a fashion shoot inside the building. We can partner with travel agencies or individuals who want to sell our group tours to individuals or small groups, Find out what makes YPT stand out from the crowd and how we got to where we are today, Read more about our tour guides and support staff. Djenné is also home to one of the world’s most famous mosques, the Great Mosque of Djenné, which is also one of … Join Young Pioneer Tours for one of our signature Group Adventures to the Islamic Republic of Iran, or Iraqi Kurdistan and the Caucuses, or let us plan your independent Middle-Eastern adventure. The Djenne Great Mosque was constructed in 1907. Another group of men carries the plaster from the pits to the workmen on the mosque. The region is known especially for its characteristic earthen architecture, which, as noted above, requires continuous upkeep by the local community.Djenné’s unique form of architecture also makes it particularly susceptible to environmental threats, especially flooding. The Great Mosque of Djenné is situated in a large market square, making it a constant presence in … Essentially like many of the other buildings in Djenne, it is made from mud–well, kind of. Through the years Djenne also became the centres of Islamic scholarship, and its market square is still dominated by the beautiful Great Mosque. The first mosque on this site was built in the 13th century […] There have been several iterations of the mosque over the centuries, with the first one built most likely in the 13 th century. As well as being the centre of the community of Djenné, it is one of the most famous landmarks in Africa. In 1906 the rebuilding of the old mosque was started. ©YoungPioneerTours.com 2020. Young Pioneer Tours are the leading budget and adventure travel operator in the DPRK (North Korea). Mali, West Africa. In actual fact to say it is made of “mud” is very simplistic.The walls of the Mosque are made of sun-baked earth bricks (ferey), with sand and earth based mortar. Sadly Mali is not yet fully at peace, so what can be visited and when is in constant flux. Menu. Ultimately, Mali was conquered by France in the 20 th Yet, when it boils down to it, it is The Great Mosque of Djenne Photo by: 300td.org, Creative Commons The Great Mosque of Djenne is found in the Djenne, Mali. The mosque has a single prayer room and is crowned by two cupolas. Young Pioneer Tours were the FIRST company to pioneer trips to the Unrecognised Countries of Transnistria, Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karakabh, and South Ossetia, and we now offer a number of Group Tours, and independent packages. Bundles of palm branches were included in the building to reduce cracking caused by frequent drastic changes in humidity and temperature and to serve as readymade scaffolding for annual repairs. People walk past the Grand Mosque of Djenne, a UNESCO World-Heritage listed site, in Djenne, Mali, on September 1, 2012. The present mosque was built in 1906-7 on the ruined floor plan of the original 13th century mosque. In the ancient city of Djenné lies the largest mud brick … The Great Mosque of Djenné is only one of many important monuments in the area known as the Djenné Circle, which also includes the archaeological sites of Djenné-Djeno, Hambarketolo, Tonomba and Kaniana. Drawing on the “Sudan style” of mud brick architecture, the Djenné mosque is topped by crenellation and attached pillars on the façade are used to emphasize the building’s verticality. A race is held at the beginning of the festival to see who will be the first to deliver the plaster to the mosque. Built in 1907 and towering above the town’s central square, the Great Mosque of Djenné is a prime example of Western Sudanic architecture. It seems, this was an initiative of local people, but also the French administration helped in the organization of public works to build the mosque and madrassa next to it. (Reuters) Djenné is located in central Mali, about 400km east of capital Bamako. This region of Anatolia was conquered by the Turks at the beginning of the 11th century. Young Pioneer Tours organize a number of Group and independent trips throughout the old Soviet Union, including Chernobyl, Chechnya, Magadan, Tiraspol, and much more. We have a long and proud history of arranging cultural projects with the Korean people; be it through art, sport, or whatever medium brings people together. To protect the Great Mosque from water damage, in particular flooding by the Bani river, the entire structure was constructed on a raised platform 3 meters high. Gutters, made of ceramic pipes, extend from the roofline and direct water drainage from the roof away from the walls. While there are many mosques that are older than its current incarnation, the Great Mosque remains the most prominent symbol of both the city of Djenné and the nation of Mali. As legend would have it, the Sultan converted to Islam, had his palace pulled down and replaced by the first mosque. The Great Mosque of Djenné, located in Djenné, Mali, on the flood plain of the Bani River, dates from 1907. (32088227574).jpg 3,008 × 2,000; 4.2 MB. team of experts. The Mass Games is the world’s largest performance as approved by the Guinness Book of Records with over 100,000 individual performers participating in a synchronised dance or gymnastics act held in the world’s largest stadium. The Mali Empire was a chief exporter of many things, including slaves. Situated on an island in the Niger River delta, Djenne became the natural hub for traders who shuttled their goods such as salt, gold and slaves in and out of Timbuktu. The walls are between 41 cm (16 in.) Elderly members of the community sit in the market square watching the proceedings. Got extra time before or after your North Korean group tour? It is also one of the finest pieces of architecture in the Here in Djenné, the striking Great Mosque is what put the town on the map. When Seku Amadu conquered Djenné during the Tukulor War, he disapproved the condition the mosque was in, had it closed and built another mosque close by. Basic information Location Entrance in the Great Mosque of Djenné / Frank in Guinea, Flickr / CC BY 2.0 Return of the old mosque. The largest adobe building in the world is located Djenné, Mali. The commune includes ten of the surrounding villages and in 2009 had a population of 32,944. Founded by merchants around 800 AD (near the site of an older city dating from 250BC), Djenné flourished as a meeting place for traders from the deserts of Sudan and the tropical forests of Guinea. Great Mosque of Djenné. The mosque is built in a Sahelian architectural style and it is the world’s largest building to be constructed with mud brick. world, and certainly the most unique in this part of Africa. In 1228–29 Emir Ahmet Shah founded a mosque, with its adjoining hospital, at Divrigi. To shorten the process, they are using wooden reinforcement as a climbing tree. If you are interested in traveling through the old USSR, YPT are your people. Sources: Wikipedia, Sacred-destination, About, woww.. very impressive. Outstanding among the buildings of Djenne are three mosques, among these is the impressive Great Mosque, which was constructed in 1907 in Adobe in the place of the original 3rd century mosque. Chief amongst this being The adobe town of Djenné was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1988. For more information about seeing the Think our tours are cool? It was formerly part of the French Empire, and since gaining independence in 1960, things have been far from smooth. Men climb onto the mosque's built-in scaffolding and ladders made of palm wood and smear the plaster over the face of the mosque. All rights reserved. The walls insulate the building from heat during the day and by nightfall have absorbed enough heat to keep the mosque warm through the night. Browse through our extensive North Korean group tour schedule to find a group tour that best suits you and your budget. Pioneers Korea is a fully owned subsidiary of YPT, focusing on business consultancy in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea). You'll most likely find it here. Great Mosque and Hospital of Divriği. The walls of the Great Mosque are made of sun-baked mud bricks called ferey, a mud based mortar, and are coated with a mud plaster which gives the building its smooth, sculpted look. thick - the thickness varying with the wall's height. Women and girls carry water to the pits before the festival and to the workmen on the mosque during it. Town Djenné together with the Great Mosque are listed under UNESCO … Djenné, the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa is situated on the floodlands of the Niger and Bani rivers, 354 kilometers (220 miles) southwest of Timbuktu. 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