The stunning botanical garden called Le Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech.
Inside the beautiful Majorelle Garden, there are over 300 stunning plant species from all over the world.
Mexican agave, Chinese windmill palms, African date palms, coconut, and banana trees amongst a labyrinth of pathways.
The incredibly tall bamboo and exotic Cacti species coexist together to create one of the most beautiful gardens in marrakech.
Originally designed by Jean Majorelle in the 1920s.
After he was forced to abandon his home because of divorce, the fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent took it over with his partner Pierre Berge to save it from hotel development in 1980.
They restored it and made it their home, bringing the garden back to it’s former glory.
For many years the Jardin Majorelle has provided me with an endless source of inspiration, and I have often dreamt of its unique colours – Yves Saint Laurent
There is a memorial to Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge in the garden.
Majorelle Garden attracts over 900,000 visitors each year, making it a less than tranquil place to sit and reflect.
I would have loved to have sat in quiet contemplation amongst the lush green vegetation, admiring the pop of colour from the bougainvillea, but I was never alone for very long.
The attractive art deco pavilion with its striking colours of blue and yellow is a popular place for visitors to get their photographs taken.
There is also a cafe and shop.
I purchased some postcards of Yves Saint Laurents’ yearly ‘Love’ drawings.
I didn’t go to the cafe because there were too many people and the queues were really long.
The gardens open daily at 8.00am and close at 6.00pm, and the last entry is at 5.30pm.
I would suggest getting there before 10.00 am, preferably at opening time if you want a more peaceful experience.
Luckily, I had prebooked online, so I didn’t have to queue.
I’m thankful that I did because the queues were really long, and it was a very hot day for standing around without any shade.
The YSL museum is also part of the visit, along with the Pierre Berge Museum of Berber Arts. It’s worth a look around if you are interested in Berber history.
Opening times are from 9.00 am until 5.30 pm with the last entry at 5.00pm.
You can’t take photographs inside the museum.
The price varies depending on where you purchase tickets from but you can expect to pay approximately €24 to visit everything.
There are plenty of nice restaurants outside the gardens, and I decided to get something to eat and drink in one of those. It was much quieter.
I recommend My Kawa for a nice salad.
There are a few shops across the road from Majorelle Garden selling souvenirs and a few attractive boutiques.
Stuff was a bit pricey, but I picked up some nice jasmine oil at a fairly decent price.
Overall, Majorelle Garden was absolutely beautiful. It is colourful and lush with several spots to sit and absorb the exotic sights and sounds.
However, it is incredibly busy with tourists, which detracts from the calm sense of serenity you’d expect to get from such a delightful setting.
It was worth visiting for the wonderful trees and plants and to get some great photos, but unless you go very early during the quiet season, you won’t get a peaceful, relaxing vibe..
Majorelle Garden is located to the north west of Marrakech medina.
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