Outstanding Gardens of Marrakesh, Morocco

Take the early shuttle to this garden, a free service provided by Anima. This 40-minute drive is also a fascinating opportunity to see “real life” outside the medina. JJ laughs as she recalls that when the shuttle bus turned onto a dirt road, she was initially surprised! However, all the passengers were taken to the garden entrance and then left on their own to explore the opulent garden within, created and curated by German artist André Heller.

Stroll along the shady paths to discover larger-than-life sculptures by Picasso, Rodin, and other renowned artists. Incredible vistas can be glimpsed throughout the garden which itself is backed by the snow-capped Atlas Mountains. “It’s a really beautiful space,” comments JJ.

When the shuttle returns you to the medina, walk across the green plaza in front of Jamaa El Fna and hire a horse and carriage to take you to Majorelle. (TIP: Be prepared to negotiate the return fare with the driver. JJ says the 2020 fare should be no more than 15 euros each way. The driver will wait for you while you visit the garden).

Like many Moroccan gardens, this enclosed courtyard has two areas; a traditional Islamic garden and an exotic garden of specimen plants. This is not laid out like a botanical garden with curated collections, however, but rather a botanical laboratory, with plants curated from all over the world.

To JJ, what makes this an exceptional garden is the way light shines through the plants creating a multi-layered experience. “There is such power in the interaction of color, light, and shadow,” she exclaims. “This is much deeper than just a garden.”

Just a 2-minute walk from JJ’s favorite riad (a guest house with an inner courtyard or garden), this newly opened garden is tucked away in the middle of the medina. Originally established in medieval times, it lay abandoned since the 1950s until the current owner renovated and transformed it.

The traditional Islamic garden features low hedges of fragrant rosemary, olive trees, pathways, and beautiful water rills. The geometric design is a metaphor of heaven as described in the Quran, a sacred space in which the Muslim order asserts itself over the wild disorder of nature. In contrast, the exotic garden showcases trees, agaves, and euphorbias from all over the world. Together they combine to create an oasis of peace and tranquility.

Take your time to absorb the atmosphere here; sit on one of the many inviting benches in the shade and watch the play of shadows on the pink clay walls, admire the intricate carvings and tile work, climb the tower (purchase this additional ticket when you arrive) and look out across the rooftops of the city, and enjoy a glass of Moroccan mint tea or a bite to eat in one of two cafes.