The blue of Majorelle

My winter getaway in Marrakech end of January seems so long ago. I have been wondering whether I should share more Marrakech travel stories during this pandemic as most of us try to stay safe and healthy during this ordeal. Then I become aware that I started this blog as a journal. Therefore I have decided to keep sharing my stories and thoughts, even when they are not pandemic related. I am doing this not because I am ignorant or tone deaf of the current suffering and gloom hanging over us right now but it is my way of reminiscing how life was before COVID-19.

One of the tourist attractions in Marrakech is Majorelle garden. Once it was built by French painter Jacques Majorelle in 1922. The characteristically intense, ultramarine blue colour used in this garden is named after its first owner, Majorelle.

There was a plan to destroy the garden and replacing it with a new hotel complex at that time. In 1980 French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé purchased this property, saving it from the destruction. Saint Laurent and Bergé renamed the blue art deco style villa, originally called Villa Bou Saf Saf as Villa Oasis. They restored it in honor of the ideas of monsieur Majorelle.

Next to the blue villa there is a mini Berber museum filled with YSL and Bergé collection of Berber culture. It is open for visitors with surcharge but there is no photograph allowed. I entered this mini museum and was charmed by it.

One of the favourite spots among the visitors. You need to queue in order to make a shot.

Look at how well the local craft is integrated in the villa. Stunning isn’t it?

Also one of the favourite spots to pose, perhaps for the Insta or only for one’s own documentation.

In this garden visitors enjoy various species of plants from 5 continents, including cactus, bamboo and of course the oranges.

Oranges everywhere!

There are a fountain, a long pool and a water lily pond.

The long pool, framed by palm and bamboo trees. Be patient to wait for your turn taking pic from this point as the queue is long.

The water lily pool with a cozy gazebo.

Visiting this garden I purchased the ticket online a couple of weeks ahead. That was an arrangement for visiting the garden, the Berber museum next to the blue villa and YSL museum 100 meter from the garden.

The entry

At the YSL museum there are the collection of his haute couture collections (yes, the Mondriaan mini dress and the world-famous ladies black Tux are on display) and some YSL drawings, pics and collages. It is forbidden to take pictures of the haute couture collections but it is more than worth it visiting.