Jardin Majorelle & YSL Museum

The Jardin Majorelle is an oasis of tranquility amidst the chaos of Marrakech — and one of the most photographed places in Morocco. The French painter Jacques Majorelle created the garden from 1923 as a tropical paradise: bamboo, cacti, bougainvillea, palms, and water lilies, interspersed with turquoise canals and fountains. The eponymous Majorelle Blue — an intense cobalt blue — is found on the buildings, fountains, and plant pots.

The History

After Majorelle's death in 1962, the garden became overgrown until Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé bought it in 1980 and lovingly restored it. Saint Laurent spent decades of his winters in Marrakech and called the garden his greatest inspiration. After Saint Laurent's death in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the rose garden — a small memorial pillar commemorates him.

The Berber Museum

In Majorelle's former studio is now the Musée Berbère with an exquisite collection of over 600 artifacts of Amazigh culture (Berber): jewelry, textiles, ceramics, weapons, and costumes from all regions of Morocco. The exhibition is small but beautifully curated and offers an excellent overview of the diversity of Berber culture.

Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech (mYSLm)

Next to the garden stands the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech since 2017 — an architectural gem by Studio KO, whose terracotta facade resembles a stack of fabrics. The museum showcases rotating haute couture creations by YSL, sketches, and personal items. The air-conditioned exhibition rooms are a welcome respite. There is also a cinema, a library, and the excellent Café YSL in the garden (coffee 40 MAD, light dishes 80–150 MAD).