Three Doors Mosque, Kairouan

The Three Doors Mosque around 1900. View all images in our Three Doors Mosque Photo Gallery.

Facade of the mosque today.

Detail of the carved facade with Kufic inscription. Photo © Orientalist.

Closer detail of the facade.

The Mosque of the Three Doors or Three Gates Mosque is another important stop for pilgrims besides the Great Mosque in Kairouan, Tunisia. Its beautiful exterior makes it a worthwhile detour for non-Muslim visitors as well.

History

The mosque was founded in 866 AD by Mohammad bin Kairoun el-Maafri, a holy man from Cordoba, and it became a center for one of the Muslim religious brotherhoods that have dominated Islam in Tunisia.

What to See

The interior is closed to non-Muslims, but the main feature anyway is the elaborate façade with its strong Andalusian influences. The mosque's three arched doorways are topped by intricate friezes of Kufic script, two of which name the mosque's founder, interspersed with floral reliefs and crowned with a carved cornice.

Quick Facts on Three Doors Mosque

Site Information
Names:	Mosque of the Three Doors; Mosquee des Trois Portes; Three Doors Mosque; Three Doors Mosque, Kairouan; Three Gates Mosque
City:	Kairouan
Country:	Tunisia
cat:	Mosques
faith:	Islam
Dates:	866
Status:	active
Visitor and Contact Information
Address:	Rue de la Mosquée des Trois Portes, Kairouan, Tunisia
Coordinates:	35.677655° N, 10.102975° E (view on Google Maps)
Opening Hours:	No entry for non-Muslims.
Cost:	Free
Lodging:	View hotels near this location

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Map of Three Doors Mosque

Below is a location map and aerial view of Three Doors Mosque. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.

References

Lonely Planet Tunisia
Mosque of the Three Doors - Planetware (Baedecker)

More Information

Three Doors Mosque, Kairouan - Go Historic
Photos of Three Doors Mosque - here on Sacred Destinations

Article Info

Title:	Three Doors Mosque, Kairouan
Author:	Holly Hayes
Last updated:	04/11/2010
Permalink:	www.sacred-destinations.com/tunisia/kairouan-three-doors-mosque
Link code:	<a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/tunisia/kairouan-three-doors-mosque">Three Doors Mosque, Kairouan</a>