Sidi Brahim Mosque (El Atteuf)
مسجد سيدي إبراهيم
A minimalist white mud-brick mosque and mausoleum outside the town of El Atteuf. Its soft curves and openings are said to have inspired Le Corbusier's Ronchamp chapel.
The Sidi Brahim Mosque lies outside El Atteuf, the oldest of the M'zab towns. It consists of the tomb of an Ibadi elder and a prayer space. Whitewashed walls, irregular vaults and skylights, and hand-moulded curves give it a strong sculptural quality. Le Corbusier was deeply struck by the M'zab when he studied the region in the 1930s, and scholars widely believe that the mosque inspired his later work, Notre-Dame-du-Haut at Ronchamp. Non-Muslims are generally only allowed to see the exterior and some courtyards, and only with a guide. Dress modestly and keep quiet. Visiting together with El Atteuf takes about half a day.
Opening hours
Visits by guide only; no visits during services
Nearby sights
- El Atteuf
- Bounoura
- Beni Isguen
- Ksar Tafilelt
- Melika
- M'zab Palm Groves
- Ksar of Ghardaïa & Market Square
- Metlili