Located to the southwest of the city, the Menara Gardens are a set of palm trees, olive trees and fruit trees, set around a lake that dates back to the 12th century. They were created by Abd El Moumen.
The name Menara is derived from the Spanish "mirador," a pavilion with a beautiful view.
The formal pond reflects the picturesque, 19th-century pavilion from the Alaouite period and was once used by the sultan and his family. Renovated in 1869, the building dates back to the 16th century and it yields magnificently with the peaks of the high Atlas in the background.
Orchards, ponds and pavilions, by the way, are primordial in an Islamic garden. These Menara gardens were included on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1989.
"The olive tree is surely the richest gift of heaven" Thomas Jefferson.
Located in the village of Takatert, this extraordinary garden, devoted entirely to the cultivation of safran crocuses, is the creation of a doctor couple from Ouijda. The grounds cover 8 hectares and are thus entirely devoted to the cultivation of crocuses but aromatic plants such as lavender and salvia also grow and flourish.
There is also a large orchard in which- besides the obligatory orange trees- kumqat trees also grow. During harvest time, about 80 extra women from the village work there. There is a drying place, a small farmyard and a store with saffron products and aromatic oils.
This bio-aromatic garden is a garden specialized in the cultivation and processing of aromatic and especially medicinal plant species, through bio-organic cultivation.
This garden is located in the village of Tinine Ourika, at the foot of the High Atlas. It is the creation of a team of three people: an expert in essential oils, a pharmacist, and an expert in natural cosmetics.
Nectarome represents an excellent combination of full-bodied, natural and originally Moroccan medicine with the achievements of modern aromatherapy or phytotherapy. All this to allow people to experience the beneficial effects of natural "cosmetics.
The company also contributes to the development of the region by always recruiting people from the village and the surrounding area.
The very oldest olive press was found on the island of Crete and dates back to 1600 B.C. And the very first written law in the entire world dates back to 600 B.C. and prohibits the cutting down of olive trees!
And the winners of the first Olympic Games in ancient Greece were crowned with olive branches.
The Palmeraie
The origin of the Palmeraie is rather of mythical order: it was said that the soldiers of Youssef Ibn Tachfin, the founder of Marrakech, spit out their date seeds on the ground in their encampment after their frugal meal. These seeds would then have germinated and in this way created the palm groves
Today, the area of the Palmeraie is about 120 square meters and there are about 200,000 palm trees, interspersed with large villas, hovels, fields, khettaras, gardens and veritable orchards.
Unfortunately, the Palmeraie is highly threatened by developers and the terrible drought of recent years has been disastrous for the trees, which were already suffering from a strange tree disease.
The late Jacques Abtan built his luxurious Moorish-style villa in 1983 primarily to live there himself with his family. He then dressed the house and its eight suites for guests with Moroccan, antique pieces and paraphernalia from the Protectorate.
The villa stands on 5 acres of land, surrounded by a shady garden where the owner himself spent a lot of time. This garden is a true paradise where turtles and exotic birds live amid pergolas, stately old trees, Moorish-style patios, even English lawns, a cactus garden and woodland.
After the death of the progenitor, son Stephane assumed the loving care of the house and garden.
This particular species of palm is a symbol of abundance, peace, justice and has an almost divine status for Muslims. After all, it was God who created the tree, as a source of food for the first humans in paradise, and the tree also provided the material for the prophet's dwelling. It appears that Muhammad himself considered dates to be his favorite food and so the Qur'an is full of references to these fruits. Incidentally, during the month of Ramadan, Muslims break the fast first and foremost with a date.
The French artist Jacques Majorelle came to settle in Marrakech in 1919, on the terriers he had purchased, which have now become the Majorelle Gardens. Although he had already designed the plans in 1924, he did not open the gardens to the general public until 1947. After his death in 1962, the site fell into disrepair until it was purchased in 1980 by YSL and PB, who then completely restored the gardens. Plants from all continents are planted here, yucca, cactus, palms, aquatic plants...along meandering paths full of color and light. And in between is Majorelle's famous blue house, which now houses the Museum of Islamic Art.
This huge nursery is an "annex" to the famous nursery in Casablanca and is spcialized in drought-loving plants, such as agave, yucca, aloe...which do very well in Marrakech's hot and dry climate. The entire 3-hectare site is covered with shade nets 6 meters high in cheerful colors and in the middle is the large greenhouse. Casa Botanica works completely ecologically. There is also a very interesting range of roses and climbing plants and on site there is a sympathetic café cum eatery in flower-power style. You can walk, rest, visit the garden and meet like-minded souls.
Villa Les Iris is an unconventional garden planted with unusual trees, shrubs, perennials and flowers, native to Morocco. Owner Rajaa Chbani found the inspiration for her garden from her visits to other gardens in many countries. Rajaa Chbani, pharmacist and president of the Homeopathic Association of Marrakech, of the Yoga Association and also of Maghrebio organizes workshops of all kinds on yoga and aromatic oils and natural food. She is also a graduate in dietetics and phyto-aromatic therapy. Her garden therefore reflects her tastes and interests. It consists of several garden rooms, each with its own color, taste, planting, furniture, pots...And of course her garden is pesticide-free and she protects her plants against diseases and insects with homeopathic preparations.
Aloe Vera is known for its external use in a variety of skin conditions, such as minor burns and acne. The juices of the plants speed up the healing process considerably!
Ginger can be very effective for all kinds of stomach problems, such as poor digestion and heavy stomach. The root was reportedly used as early as B.C. for motion sickness and nausea in pregnancy.
Thyme is used in especially typical feminine hygiene products such as mouthwash, all kinds of creams, bath salts, and also as an effective remedy for stomach trouble, ringworm, psoriasis, fever, sore throat and bad body odors. Used as an infusion and applied to the skin, it repels insects.
This park, located opposite the Koutoubia mosque was created in the 18th century for Prince Moulay Abdeslam, son of Sultan Mohammed Ben Abdullah. This 8 acre park has been completely restored and combines modern and traditional elements. In 2015, the park launched itself into the new technological century by installing Internet kiosks, WiFi space and a telecommunications museum. The park is beautifully landscaped, green and orderly, with shady avenues and well-kept plantings: olive trees, orange trees and varied undergrowth.
This is a gem of an urban park after French design and especially popular with locals. It is carefully laid out according to a geometric pattern, there are water basins, an herb garden, a water garden, a cactus garden, an Australian garden and it counts a fli,k number of rare and old trees, special shrubs and plants. The park also includes a small zoo.
Is a historic residence and riad located right next to the Koutoubia mosque and it currently houses the French consulate. Built in 1820, the residence was owned by Moulay Ali, a member of the ruling sultan's family. Afterwards, it was used as a residence for military officials. The building itself was restored in 2015.
Set around a courtyard garden surrounded by salons, the large house is decorated with painted arabesques and Moroccan tile work. The original riad garden is gone, but the larger park garden on the south side of the house still exists and is accessible. The interior is beautiful and the plants seem to emit sounds. A perfect place to unwind and have a tea.
Arguably one of the most prestigious hotels in the world with accompanying sprawling gardens that even Winston Churchill described as the most beautiful place on earth. The gardens date back to the 18th century and were a gift from Sultan Mohammed III to his son Moulay Mamoun. The hotel itself was built in 1923 and more recently received a total makeover.
There are towering palm trees, orange trees, rose bushes and ancient olive trees. A tea house at the back of the garden is a wonderful place to enjoy a Moroccan tea. The hotel and gardens can be visited between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Anima is a very exceptional garden, brainchild of André Heller, an Austrian multimedia artist and artistic jack-of-all-trades. Located at the foot of the Atlas Mountains, the garden was designed about 15 years ago. The place is literally a home for plants from all corners of the world, forming the backdrop for a spectacular open-air museum full of sculptures in many colors. The whole thing is a feast for all the senses. A garden that is above all a place of peace, tranquility and enjoyment, an oasis of greenery and coolness in the midst of a warem and dry desert. Heller wanted this unique and living museum to be experienced by each visitor as they wish, without plan or trajectory. The garden is literally a treasure trove of places that invite one to linger, walk, listen and smell.
Somewhere in the inner city of Marrakech, hidden in the small streets of the medina,lies
the secret garden, le Jardin Secret. It is in fact an old palace with magnificent gardens, which, after a long period of neglect, have recently been opened to the general public.
There are actually 2 lush gardens on display, one exotic and one Islamic, each decorated with the plants and furnishings appropriate to its style. The beautifully inlaid cedar wood and green tiles show the high quality of labor of the local artisans of the time. In the pavilions, one learns all about the history of the gardens and the more than impressive water system that was used here. Water, of course, was and still is seen in these arid regions as the symbol of life and the power of Allah.
This former palace of pacha Madani El Glaoui is one of the largest and most beautiful urban palaces in the medina. It has 12 extremely stylishly decorated rooms and had many uses over time. The garden is clearly Islamic, laid out in 4 quadrants and the vegetation is rich. The Glaoui Gardens are-however very much riads of tradition- yet completely different due to the introduction of strange architecture. It is a so-called composite riad, intended to accommodate elements from a 'different civilization' and the need for tradition. So the whole thing is 'special' rather than sophisticated.
