MAJORELLE GARDEN Looking for something to do one afternoon, I headed over to one of the best-known spots in Marrakech: Majorelle Gardens. This unusual green space, created 80 years ago, is also the name of a painter. Passionnate about travelling, he came to Morocco and fell in love. So he built a Moorish-style villa and, over time, a garden around it. Let Made in Marrakech take you on a guided tour of this green space in the heart of the Red City.
As I walked through this impressive mini forest, where vegetation has it’s place and plants mix harmoniously together. Then I arrive at the large central fountain. Birds flying around me, and blues, yellows and oranges brighten up the decor. The exotic plants line the fountains and offer visitors a unique view of the garden, rich in colour and pleasant smells, surrounding the famous villa. It’s hard to imagine that this magical place was once abandonned after the Majorelle passed away in 1962.
A Second Life
Twenty years later, Yves Saint Laurent (whose stele is located in the garden today) and Pierre Bergé bought the place that they restored, and founded the Association pour la Sauvegarde et le Rayonnement du Jardin Majorelle. They decided to double the amount of space to display their personal collection items inspired by Islamic art. But the works of are unmatched in comparison to what nature offers on the outside.
The path through the garden is both harmonious and subtle, and invites a bit of daydreaming. I look around me. The bits of sunlight shine through the plants’ leaves. I hear the trickle of water and see the eyes of other admirers. In the fountain, birds fly by while singing a tune, and water-lillies gently float by.
For a minute I wonder, is this real or just an illusion?
Today the gardens are a flagship tourist attraction in Marrakech, and somewhat expensive (especially if you decide to have a bite to eat), but it’s a place you won’t want to miss. Rich in history, but also a treat for the senses, Majorelle is a little piece of paradise in the heart of a large city.
Entrance fees
Majorelle Garden: 40 dh (4€)
Majorelle Garden Museum: 20 dh (2€)
Text Elisa F.
Photo Made in Marrakech
Translation Mandy Sinclair
Published July 13, 2011
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