Muslim Cultural Center of Ljubljana
The Muslim cultural center of Ljubljana, built in 2020, is home to one of the most beautifully designed modern mosques in Europe. The modern design and elegant, polished minaret suggest that you have entered a missile launch complex.
Located in a semi-industrial area of the Slovenian capital, the mosque, which seats up to 1,400 people, is the heart of an Islamic cultural center of six buildings. All buildings are constructed of white concrete combined with elements of steel, glass and wood. Inside the mosque, a large blue dome catches the eye. Other features include the main prayer hall, a separate 40-meter-high minaret, an education center, a gym, a park, and a restaurant.
The Ljubljana Mosque is the first mosque in the country. The Muslim community in Slovenia worked for decades to build it, and the first application for the construction of a mosque was made in 1969, when Slovenia was still part of the former communist Yugoslavia. The community finally got permission in the early 2000s, but faced opposition from right-wing groups who tried to stop the project, but the courts rejected their requests.
After plans to build elsewhere failed, the location of the mosque was determined in 2008, and its foundation was laid in 2013. The mosque opened to the public in February 2020. The construction cost was 34 million euros, with most of this money donated by Qatar. The rest was gathered by the Muslim community of Slovenia.
Located in a semi-industrial area of the Slovenian capital, the mosque, which seats up to 1,400 people, is the heart of an Islamic cultural center of six buildings. All buildings are constructed of white concrete combined with elements of steel, glass and wood. Inside the mosque, a large blue dome catches the eye. Other features include the main prayer hall, a separate 40-meter-high minaret, an education center, a gym, a park, and a restaurant.
The Ljubljana Mosque is the first mosque in the country. The Muslim community in Slovenia worked for decades to build it, and the first application for the construction of a mosque was made in 1969, when Slovenia was still part of the former communist Yugoslavia. The community finally got permission in the early 2000s, but faced opposition from right-wing groups who tried to stop the project, but the courts rejected their requests.
After plans to build elsewhere failed, the location of the mosque was determined in 2008, and its foundation was laid in 2013. The mosque opened to the public in February 2020. The construction cost was 34 million euros, with most of this money donated by Qatar. The rest was gathered by the Muslim community of Slovenia.