Anima Garden is the creation of Austrian multimedia artist André Heller, opened in 2016 about 27 km along the Ourika road southeast of Marrakech. Part botanical garden, part open-air art installation, it winds through dense plantings of palms, bamboo, cacti, olives and roses that give way to sudden clearings staged with sculpture and colour. The effect is deliberately surreal and dreamlike rather than a conventional formal garden.
Scattered among the greenery are works by and inspired by major artists, including pieces echoing Picasso, Keith Haring, Niki de Saint Phalle and Rodin, along with Heller's own vivid installations. Winding paths, a maze-like layout, mirrored and mosaic pieces, and framed views of the snow-capped High Atlas beyond keep the walk full of small surprises. At the centre, the Paul Bowles Café, named for the American writer who made Morocco his home, serves drinks and light meals under the trees.
The garden is calm, shaded and unhurried, a striking contrast to the intensity of the Marrakech medina. Because it lies out on the valley road with no easy public transport, a private driver is by far the simplest way to come: door-to-door from your riad, a relaxed couple of hours among the sculptures, and the option to combine it with the Ourika Valley or Monday souk on the same run.
Highlights
- André Heller's surreal, maze-like planting of palms, bamboo, cacti and roses
- Sculptures and installations echoing Picasso, Haring, Niki de Saint Phalle and Rodin
- Framed views of the snow-capped High Atlas from within the garden
- The Paul Bowles Café for drinks and light meals under the trees
- Shaded, unhurried paths that contrast with the intensity of Marrakech
- A photogenic blend of botanical garden and open-air contemporary art
Best Time to Visit
Morning or late afternoon in spring or autumn, when temperatures are mild and the light on the Atlas backdrop is best.