Le Jardin Secret
Two restored gardens behind a medina wall, around a 19<sup>th</sup>-century palace and a tower that opens onto the rooftops and the Atlas. Smaller and more recent than the city's great gardens, but well tended and central: a 45-minute pause in the middle of the souks, not an outing.
History & context
Le Jardin Secret sits on Rue Mouassine, within the Marrakech medina, on the site of a palace whose origins go back to the second half of the 16th century, when the Saadian sultan Moulay Abd-Allah launched the urbanisation of the district. This first palace was destroyed at the end of the 17th century, after the decline of the dynasty.
Around the middle of the 19th century, the caid al-Hajj Abd-Allah U-Bihi had a new palace built on the site, following the outline of the Saadian complex. The water, brought from the Atlas by a khettara, fed the gardens, the hammam and the fountains.
Bought in the early 2000s, the site was restored by Moroccan artisans and the British landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, then opened to the public in 2016. It now brings together two gardens - one laid out along the principles of the Islamic garden, the other exotic - and a tower that overlooks the rooftops of the medina.
Smaller than Majorelle, but in the middle of the souk: a green pause ten minutes from Jemaa el-Fna.
What to see - the highlights
The Islamic garden
The classic geometric layout: four beds, water channels, citrus trees and palms, fed by water from the khettara.
The exotic garden
Plants from all over the world, cacti and dry-climate species, designed during the restoration by the landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith.
The panoramic tower
Climbing the tower opens onto the rooftops of the medina and, in the distance, the Atlas range. Extra charge for access.
The water and the khettara
The historic water system: water brought from the Atlas by a khettara, which fed the gardens, the hammam and the fountains.
When to go
The medina still quiet and soft light on the beds.
Tour groups in force, and heat in the souks to get here.
Gardens at their greenest and gentle temperatures, before summer.
Gallery
Le Jardin Secret
Two gardens - Islamic and exotic - hidden behind the medina walls on Rue Mouassine, around a restored palace and its panoramic tower.
Tickets & guided tours
Book ahead - useful during peak hours, when the queue can top thirty minutes.
Booking via GetYourGuide, our ticket partner. Indicative prices ; we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
Visitor tips
At opening, when the medina is still quiet.
Mid-afternoon, the busiest time.
- The garden ticket (about £8) and the tower climb (about £3) are paid separately: take both if you want the view.
- The entrance is discreet, in the middle of the souk on Rue Mouassine: look for number 121, many walk past it.
- Two cafés on site let you take a break in the shade between two alleyways.
Location & access
On Rue Mouassine, deep inside the medina, between the Mouassine mosque and the Ben Youssef square. On foot only from Jemaa el-Fna, about ten minutes through the souks. The entrance is discreet, watch out for number 121.
