We were so looking forward to visiting Yves Saint Laurent’s exotic Majorelle Garden Marrakech, and its dramatic desert landscape is really something extraordinary.
The walled garden was originally conceived by French artist Jacques Majorelle in the 1930’s. He meticulously planned the garden and house when Morocco was still part of France. He travelled in the Atlas Mountains and was inspired by the Berbers use of colbalt blue painted on the windows frames of their houses.
Majorelle was a passionate amateur botanist and in 1922 purchased a palm grove on the outskirts of Marrakech. He was an obsessive plant collector, specialising in cacti, palms and succulents all of which feature in the garden. Majorelle was not a very well know artists, and so the Jardin Majorelle became his masterpiece.
We’ve never seen experienced anything like this dramatic garden design. Cacti grow in every form and shape possible in a pink sand and produce a lush and green foliage. A labyrinth of paths with crisscross the garden with garden beds on different levels. A central pool with a fountain provides a cooling contrast to the desert garden plantings of cactus, bamboo, yuccas, bougainvilleas and palms.
Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Berge bought Majorelle Garden in the 1980’s, saving it from destruction by developers.
“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
The couple restored the property adding more dramatic pops of yellow and green posts, complementing the intense blue painted by Majorelle.
Majorelle Garden Boutique
The store has some beautiful products inspired by Yves Saint Laurent and handmade by local Moroccan artisans. Its vibrantly coloured interior reflects the rich and ancient culture of Morocco.
We often check out gallery or museum stores as they are often a good place to buy quality gifts or a holiday keepsake.
The opening of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent – sister museum to the one in Paris – adjacent to the gardens in 2017 has increased the gardens popularity.
Our local tip
The garden can be very busy so book ahead or go early to get ahead of the crowds. Jump on the Majorelle Garden website or read more about the garden at Lonely Planet.
The surrounding area has some of the cities most stylish contemporary craft stores. One in particular is Rue 33 Majourelle, a gallery style store. Beautifully presented and a cleverly curated with a collection of products from local designers.
Read about our other travels in Morocco. Follow the link to our Berber Village Sous Valley story.