Great Mosque of Djenné

architecture · Africa · adobe · Mali

Biggest adobe building. The Great Mosque of Djenné holds the world record as the largest building made from adobe bricks, which are blocks of mud mixed with straw and dried in the sun.

Built on a river plain. The mosque sits in the city of Djenné, Mali, on the flood plain of the Bani River, which means the land around it floods during certain seasons.

Modern rebuild from 1907. While a mosque stood on this spot since around the 13th century, the stunning structure you see today was completely rebuilt in 1907 using traditional methods.

UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1988, the Great Mosque of Djenné and the old town around it were named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, meaning people around the world recognize how important and beautiful it is.

Heart of the community. The mosque is much more than a religious building, it is the center of life in Djenné where people gather, celebrate, and come together.