Overview:

The Cologne Central Mosque is a large four-story mosque and educational center located in the Cologne city center in Germany. The mosque was completed in 2017 and is one of the largest mosques in Europe. The building was designed by architect Paul Böhm, and was funded by the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs, a German-Turkish umbrella organization of several Turkish-Islamic organizations. The mosque includes a large prayer hall, a library, lecture rooms, a café, and a children's play area. The building has become a symbol of German inclusiveness in recent years. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Germany
Prominent Features:

The Cologne Central Mosque is the largest mosque in Germany and one of the largest mosques in Europe. The building was designed to blend with the city's Baroque architecture and features Islamic architectural elements. The mosque, which was officially opened in September 2018, features a 44 meter minaret, a dome, an auditorium, a library, a garden, and multiple prayer halls. The mosque is run by the Ditib organization and is funded in part by the Turkish government. It serves as a center for Islamic culture and education, and hosts a variety of Islamic events throughout the year. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Germany.

History:

The Cologne Central Mosque, also known as the “Lanxess Arena Mosque”, is the largest Mosque in Germany. It is located in the Cologne trade fair grounds in the Deutz neighborhood. The Cologne Central Mosque was built in 2017 to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB) operating in Germany. It began in 2007, when the DITIB opened the first official Turkish-Islamic center in the country. The Mosque was designed by the German-Turkish Architect, Rainer Hofmann. It covers an area of 3 acres and features a main prayer hall, a library and reading rooms, a tea house, a conference room, offices, classrooms, and a restaurant. The Mosque has a capacity of 1,500 people, making it one of the largest in Europe. The Cologne Central Mosque also serves as an extra- territorial part of Turkey in Germany, with the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan as the Honorary Chair of the German Foundation. The German government pledged to provide 10 million Euros towards the construction of the Mosque, while the DITIB and Turkish Government funded the remaining 70 percent of the costs. In addition to being a place of prayer and spiritual fulfillment for Muslim worshippers of the Cologne region, the Mosque also works to promote intercultural and interreligious dialogue with Germany's diverse religious and non-religious population. The Mosque also is active in providing education programs for youth, refugee counseling, and vocational dialogue among different ethnicities. The Mosque has faced some criticism, however, especially from local right-wing and anti- Muslim politicians regarding its presence in their neighborhoods. The city of Cologne and state government of North Rhine-Westphalia have worked to combat this by working together to improve understanding between local communities and Muslim communities. The Mosque has become an symbol of interaction and understanding between different beliefs and cultures in Cologne. Visit one of the famous monuments of Germany with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. It is the first Mosque in Germany to be constructed according to the traditional rules and regulations of the Sunni Islamic architecture and design. 2. The construction of the Mosque began in 2014 and was completed in 2020. 3. The mosque was inaugurated in a ceremony attended by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan. 4. It is the largest Mosque in Germany with a capacity of 1500 worshippers. 5. It is funded by renowned Turkish NGO, the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB). 6. The Mosque is 11,000 square meters and is built on an artificial hill giving it a unique design. 7. It is equipped with advanced solar energy systems to reduce energy consumption and preserve the environment. 8. The mosque has several facilities, including a lecture hall, a library, a venue for interfaith dialogue, a youth center, a children’s playground and a cafe. 9. It also serves as an educational center with courses focusing on Islamic culture, language, art, and science. 10. The cathedral also has a modern funeral service facility with a dedicated mahfil prayer room. One of the historical monuments of Germany, it tells the story of a bygone era