Welcome Guide by the University of Aix-Marseille, France Welcome Guide France - EN | Page 4

2. WHAT IS THE PLACE OF RELIGION IN FRANCE?
In Marseille, I have many friends.
One of them, Sofiane, is a Muslim.
There is also Patrick who is a Jew.
There is also Marie who is a Christian.
There is also Amala who is a Buddhist.
There is also Christian who is an atheist.
In Marseille and in France, there are places of religious worships for all religions. Here are
some of these places:
That is where Marie sometimes
goes when she wants to pray.
The inhabitants of Marseille call the Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica “La Bonne Mère” (The
Good Mother).
That is where Sofiane sometimes
goes when he wants to pray.
“Khalid Ibn Al Walid” is one of the mosques in Marseille.
That is where Patrick sometimes
goes to pray.
The Great Synagogue in Marseille is located in the city centre.
SECULARISM is an essential concept: Church and State are separated. Wearing outer religious
signs is banned in public places. At school, for example, Muslim girls must not wear the “hijab”;
Jewish boys must not wear kippahs; crosses worn around the neck by some Catholic students
must not be ostentatiously showed. Civil servants must not show their religious affiliation.
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