Marrakech: Jardin Majorelle

Jardin Majorelle, Rue Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakech, Morocco
Entry costs 50 dirhams for the gardens, plus an extra 25 dirhams if you wish to visit the Berber Museum; open daily from 8am to 6pm.

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There's not much to do in Marrakech, in all honesty, and there aren't that many places where you can get out of the hustle and bustle, escape from all of the demands. But, the Jardin Majorelle - the Majorelle Gardens - is one of those little pockets of paradise in Marrakech where you can go and relax.

Situated on the outskirts of the Medina - the walled old town - Jardin Majorelle was built by artist Jacques Majorelle, a French painter who went to Marrakech in 1919 to recover from health problems.

     
After his death, the gardens fell into disrepair, but they were rescued by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980 to stop the site from being developed into a hotel resort.

 
Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé, first discovered Jardin Majorelle back in the sixties.

Today the Majorelle Gardens are an explosion of colour - full of flora and fauna, towering palm trees and cacti.

     
The blue colour used throughout the gardens is called Majorelle blue, named after Jacques Majorelle. It's a distinctive blue that definitely catches your eyes!

Jacques Majorelle's workshop was also painted in that colour, and it now houses Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé's collection of Berber artefacts.

The Berber Museum is small, but it's worth popping inside. Tickets can be bought at either the main entrance of the gardens or at the museum entrance if you are already in the gardens. 
 
Definitely make sure that you visit Jardin Majorelle if you're ever in Marrakech - it's small, but it's a tranquil space that's worth exploring. Doesn't it look wonderful? x

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