Majorelle Garden
If you are a lover of Botanical Gardens with an artistically inspired twist, you should checkout Majorelle Garden on your next visit to Morocco. Formerly owned by Yves Saint Laurent, the inspiring garden has always stuck out as one of the hidden jewels that one must-see on a trip to Marrakech.
History
As Marrakech was always a source of inspiration for Yves St. Laurent, the famed fashion designer purchased the property in the 1980s in conjunction with his business partner Pierre Berge. The two fell in love with the property during a 1966 visit and vowed to preserve Majorelle’s vision. As a result, the property underwent a significant restoration project, and the YSL foundation became the sole owners of the property. As of 2008, after the Death of YSL, the late designer’s ashes were scattered all over the property, and Jardin Majorelle is now home to YSL’s memorial site.
Today
As of today, the property includes a Berber Museum, an Islamic Art Museum, and a museum devoted to the late Yves Saint Laurent, all of which are open free to the public. Known for its vibrant colors and Berber inspired architecture, Garden Majorelle offers a lot in terms of sensory fulfillment. The original owner Jaques Majorelle found the city to be an infinite source of artistic inspiration and made it his lives work to reflect this in his vision. The intense color pallette for the Villa Oasis takes inspiration from the colorful streets of Marrakech. The villa is characterized by its exuberant shades of Majorelle Blue; A tribute to the original owner who made it his life’s work to craft the property into the inspiring landscape that is seen today.
Aesthetics
When it comes to enchanting aesthetics, Garden Majorelle is unrivaled. The garden is home to an impressive collection of over 300 species of international plants and contains a vast array of exotic cactuses, stunning sculptures, as well as remarkable fountains.
Majorelle’s former workshop has now been transformed into a Berber museum and features the late artist’s paintings, and is the principal location for the Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech. An impressive collection of North African textiles from Saint-Laurent’s personal collection can be browsed, as well as Berber themed ceramics and jewelry. The property also features an onsite boutique offering a wide range of clothing, inspired by Morrocan culture and designed exclusively for Boutique Majorelle. One of kind finds such as an accessories line designed by Yves Saint Laurent’s former studio assistant Loulou de la Falaise are among some of the cool items that can be shopped at Boutique Majorelle.
