Jardin Majorelle is Marrakech's most photographed garden, a compact but densely planted oasis famous for the electric cobalt blue — Majorelle Blue — that its creator splashed across the villa, pergolas and planters. The French painter Jacques Majorelle began the garden in the 1920s and spent decades collecting cacti, bamboo, palms, bougainvillea and water lilies from around the world, arranging them along shaded paths and around lily ponds.
After Majorelle's death the garden fell into decline, until Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé bought and restored it in 1980, saving it from being sold to developers. Saint Laurent loved Marrakech deeply, and after his death in 2008 his ashes were scattered here; a simple memorial stands in the garden. The former studio now houses a small Berber Museum with a fine collection of North African jewellery, textiles and artefacts.
The garden is small and hugely popular, so it can feel crowded, and tickets are timed. Booking ahead and arriving early makes an enormous difference. It sits in the Ville Nouvelle, a short drive from the medina, so a private driver takes you door to door — worthwhile here since it also pairs naturally with the neighbouring Yves Saint Laurent Museum in a single stop.
Highlights
- The Majorelle-Blue villa, pergolas and Art Deco planters
- Collections of cacti, bamboo, palms and bougainvillea along shaded paths
- Lily ponds and burbling fountains throughout the garden
- The Berber Museum in Majorelle's former painting studio
- The Yves Saint Laurent memorial within the grounds
- Steps from the Musée Yves Saint Laurent next door
Best Time to Visit
Book a timed ticket for the first opening slot around 8-9 am to see the blues in soft morning light before the crowds peak.