The long lines of people waiting to enter Jardin Majorelle have become legendary in the city of Marrakech. The implementation of an online booking system may reduce the number of visits. However, the presence of tourists and Instagram users continues to predominate, reducing the possibility of finding complete peace or quiet. The gardens are still breathtaking and exquisitely designed, and the villa's Berber Museum offers an intriguing look into cultural legacy.
Year-round, the gardens are open on Wednesdays through Sundays; however, specific hours, especially around religious holidays, may vary. If you'd like to avoid the busiest times of the day, you can visit in the late afternoon.
The Jardin Majorelle is steeped in folklore and history. In 1980, the renowned fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé, who had already acquired the nearby Villa Oasis, acquired the Garden and the Villa of the Painter Majorelle. They gave rise to the well-known "Bleu Majorelle" colour, after learning that they would be demolished for a real estate project.
In order to have the Garden ready for public viewing, the French designer set out to completely restore it. As one of the most popular tourist destinations in all of Morocco, the Majorelle Garden astonishes up to 600,000 tourists annually. In the garden that Yves Saint Laurent cherished and that owes him so much, a heartfelt yet understated homage is being paid to him today.
As per the history of Jardin Majorelle, the well-known French painter Jardin Majorelle himself, established the green haven in 1931. Long back in 1923, he had started filling it with unusual plant specimens from throughout the globe. However, Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, who had first visited Morocco in 1966, bought the Jardin Majorelle in 1980 to protect it from being demolished by hotel developers. Renaming the property of the Villa Oasis, the new owners chose to reside in Jacques Majorelle's estate.
Jardin Majorelle was actually built in 1931 when he hired architect Paul Sinoir to create a Cubist mansion there. Over time, he was able to add another 10 acres to his property by purchasing nearby plots. However, long back in 1923, Majorelle had already started establishing a lush garden in the grounds surrounding the house, which would eventually be called the Jardins Majorelle (Majorelle Garden).
As per Jardin Majorelle's history, the oldest part is the gardens that were started in the year 1922 by the French painter. More than 300 plant species from all over the world can be found in these gardens, creating an otherworldly desert mirage.
Café Majorelle, located in Marrakech, Morocco, was not built; instead, it was part of the Majorelle Garden, which was created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s and 1930s. During the period of Jacques Majorelle, the cafe was housed in the former servants' quarters. It was modeled as per the rammed earth buildings that are common in North Africa's Berber regions. Madison Cox, a garden designer, subsequently refurbished it while preserving its rustic element.
The French Orientalist artist Jacques Majorelle began work on Jardin Majorelle in 1923 and spent nearly forty years creating it. It includes a 1930s Cubist mansion created by French architect Paul Sinoir.