Majorelle Garden, Marrakech: what to see and when to go

Majorelle Garden is a one-hectare botanical and landscape garden in Marrakech, Morocco, created by artist Jacques Majorelle from 1923. Known for its bold blue buildings and lush plantings, it features a Cubist villa, Berber Museum, and a large collection of cacti. The garden is open to visitors year-round.

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Created by artist Jacques Majorelle from 1923 over nearly forty years
Features a Cubist villa painted in Majorelle Blue
Home to the Berber Museum and Majorelle’s paintings
Restored by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in the 1980s
Hosts over 15 North African bird species and many cacti

What is Majorelle Garden?

Majorelle Garden is a botanical and landscape garden covering about one hectare in Marrakech. Visitors find winding paths among dense plantings of cacti and other exotic species, with fountains and sculptures throughout. The garden’s buildings are painted in a striking shade of cobalt blue known as Majorelle Blue. The site includes a Cubist villa, now home to the Berber Museum, and features displays of Berber art and Majorelle’s own paintings. The garden is known for its peaceful atmosphere and vibrant colors.

The history of Majorelle Garden

The garden was created by French artist Jacques Majorelle, who settled in Marrakech in the early 1920s. Inspired by local colors and culture, he began developing the garden in 1923 and expanded it over nearly forty years. The Cubist villa was added in 1931, designed by architect Paul Sinoir. Majorelle opened the garden to the public in 1947 to help with maintenance costs. After his divorce in the 1950s, the property changed hands and fell into neglect until Yves Saint-Laurent and Pierre Bergé restored it in the 1980s. It is now managed by a foundation.

What there is to see

The garden is laid out with winding paths, fountains, and a rich collection of cacti and exotic plants. The buildings and garden features are painted in Majorelle Blue, a color created and patented by Jacques Majorelle. The villa and former studio now house museums dedicated to Berber culture and art. The garden is maintained by a non-profit foundation, with ongoing projects funded by visitor admissions.

Détail d'un mur, Jardin Majorelle, Marrakech. Photo: JalilArfaoui, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

When to go

Majorelle Garden is open to the public daily and is a major attraction in Marrakech, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. The garden and museums offer insight into Berber culture, Islamic art, and the life of Jacques Majorelle. The site is also a place of remembrance for Yves Saint Laurent, whose ashes were scattered there after his death in 2008.

Parts and collections

The garden’s plant collection is notable for its many species of cacti and its variety of North African birdlife. The museums within the complex have changed over time, with the former Islamic Art Museum now serving as the Berber Museum. The Yves Saint Laurent Museum opened nearby in 2017, expanding the cultural offerings of the site.

Why Majorelle Garden matters

Majorelle Garden is recognized for its artistic heritage and its role in preserving Berber culture. The distinctive blue color used throughout the garden has become iconic and is known as Majorelle Blue. The site is a symbol of Marrakech’s artistic and cultural history, attracting visitors from around the world and serving as a legacy of both Jacques Majorelle and Yves Saint Laurent.

Plan a visit

🇲🇦 Marrakesh · All yearMajorelle GardenA painter's garden of cacti, bamboo and water lilies, set against walls of intense cobalt blue.

Questions people ask about Majorelle Garden

Where is Majorelle Garden located?

Majorelle Garden is in Marrakech, Morocco, on Rue Yves Saint Laurent. It is a well-known botanical and landscape garden open to the public.

Who created Majorelle Garden?

The garden was created by French artist Jacques Majorelle, who began developing it in 1923 and devoted nearly forty years to its design and planting.

What is special about Majorelle Blue?

Majorelle Blue is a bold cobalt blue shade used throughout the garden and its buildings. Jacques Majorelle created and patented this color, inspired by local tiles and Berber clothing.

What can visitors see at Majorelle Garden?

Visitors can explore winding paths among cacti and exotic plants, view fountains and sculptures, and visit the Berber Museum inside the Cubist villa. The site also displays Majorelle’s paintings.

Who restored the garden after it fell into neglect?

Fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé purchased and restored the garden in the 1980s, saving it from disrepair and opening it to the public.

Good reading and sources

Where this page comes from

The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Majorelle Garden", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Shalimar Bagh: ANSAR AHMAD, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Yadavindra Gardens: Giridhar Appaji Nag Y, CC BY 2.0, source

Chashme Shahi: Amitraina at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source

Agdal Gardens: Marrakech,_Agdal_Gardens,_2007-08-01.jpg : Patrice derivative work: Te, CC BY 2.0, source

ANIMA: János Korom Dr. >17 Million views, CC BY-SA 2.0, source

Wild cherry: MPF, CC BY 2.5, source

Menara Gardens: Bernard Gagnon, CC BY-SA 3.0, source

Alhambra: Jebulon, CC0, source

Majorelle Garden: Viault, CC BY-SA 4.0, source

Majorelle Garden