Church of Notre-Dame de Lourdes

Notre-Dame de Lourdes is the place to see one of the most impressive works of mid-century stained glass in North Africa. The church was designed by the architect Achille Dangleterre with the engineer Gaston Zimmer and completed in the mid-1950s, at the end of the French protectorate. From the outside it is a fairly plain modernist block in concrete, recognisable by the large concrete hood over the doors topped with a small crucifix. The real reason to come is inside.

The windows are the work of Gabriel Loire, a stained-glass artist of international reputation, and they are the reason most visitors make the trip. Here the glass covers an entire wall, with a surface of more than 800 square metres according to the regional tourism council. When the sun is out, the interior fills with coloured light, and the effect changes through the day as the sun moves. It is a calm, open space, very different from the decorative richness of the city's mosques and Mauresque buildings.

Notre-Dame de Lourdes is still a working Roman Catholic church, so visitors should be respectful: dress modestly, keep voices low and avoid wandering around during services. Opening times for visitors are not published, and the doors are not always open outside services, so be prepared to try again later. If you want to take photographs, ask first and never do so during a service.

The church suits travellers interested in architecture, art and religious history, and anyone tracing the modern buildings of the protectorate era. Allow 20 to 30 minutes. A bright morning or early afternoon gives the best light through the glass, while a grey day makes the colours far less dramatic.

The church sits south of the city centre, a short taxi ride from Mohammed V Square. It combines well with the Habous quarter, which lies to the south-east, and with Parc de la Ligue Arabe and the Sacré-Cœur, which are a pleasant walk away to the north-west. It is rarely as busy as the big sights, which makes it a peaceful break in a day of sightseeing, and a good contrast with the crowds at the Hassan II Mosque.