Two years after the first stones were laid, the huge, new mosque in Créteil opened its doors to the general public this weekend. "Today we're welcoming everyone, whether they're from Créteil or not," says Moncef Maiz , vice president of the Union of Muslim Associations of Créteil.  "This is nothing new. Mosques have always been spaces of openness and exchange between cultures and religions."

The mosque opened in time to host local Muslims for Eid al-Adha, a major feast day. But at the open house, people of all ages and faiths have come to see the art and architecture, a mix of modernism and tradition. (Tradition which also requires all visitors to remove their shoes before entering.)  Once inside, visitors are taken on a tour of frescoes, stained glass, and elaborate editions of the Koran.

A local resident, Michel, said he has watched the mosque's progress over the years, stone by stone. "I'm a Christian, I attend service at Notre Dame de Créteil, and today I am proud that we have this building for the Muslim community of Créteil," he says.

The Créteil mosque is considered to be the first "true" mosque in the region, with its traditional minaret and dome. The overall bill comes to five million euros, with costs shared by the local muslim faithful and the city government.

"I think that, especially for the Muslim community, this brings a certain recognition," says Laurent Cathala, mayor of Créteil. "For the city as a whole, this mosque is important for social cohesion, and to enrich the cultural heritage of the city."

Créteil has been welcoming of its new mosque. In some European countries physical symbols of Islam, like mosques, still provoque tension and backlash.