Unwind Right In The Heart Of Marrakech At This Secret Garden Offering A Serene Oasis

After wandering the bustling markets of the ancient Medina in Marrakech, stepping through the doors into Le Jardin Secret feels like entering an entirely different world. You'll be instantly transported to an oasis of serenity, which is a welcome retreat from the thrilling chaos outside the walled garden. The North African city of Marrakech, Morocco is a great destination for a couples city break. 

The Medina, an old walled part of the city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that dates back to the 11th century making it a must-visit for history buffs. For hundreds of years it remained an important cultural, spiritual, and political center. Today, the Medina of Marrakech attracts tourists from around the world who come to see the phenomenal architectural wonders like the Koutoubia Mosque, Jemaa El-Fna, Ben Youssef Merdersa, Saadian Tombs, and Bahia Palace. Shopping in the lively souks, or markets, is one of the most popular things to do.

The souks of Marrakech wind through narrow streets in an endless maze and they've been around nearly as long as the city itself. The colorful markets are full of thousands of vendors selling goods like clothing, rugs, leather goods, nuts, olives, pottery, lamps, and other treasures. During my recent trip to Morocco, there wasn't a moment that the colorful souks weren't packed full of locals and tourists bartering with vendors in the hopes of scoring a good price. Shopping the souks is an incredible experience, and a must during any trip to Marrakech, but it can quickly become overwhelming. Le Jardin Secret is nestled amongst the pandemonium. The peaceful walled garden is one of Medina's best hidden gems, and well worth a visit during your trip to Marrakech.

If you aren't specifically looking for Le Jardin Secret, or the Secret Garden, in English, you'll likely miss it. The unassuming door is surrounded on all sides by colorful shops located on Rue Mouassine, near the Mouassine Mosque and Souk Lassour. You'll have the best luck finding it if you use GPS and set the directions to walk. As you step into the garden, the sounds of the souks fade away, replaced by the sounds of trickling water, chirping birds, and hushed voices of visitors as they wander through the paths surrounded by lush greenery.

The gardens are located within two riads, surrounded by towering windowless walls on all sides. Riads are traditional Moroccan houses with open air courtyards in the center. There are two distinct gardens — an exotic garden and an Islamic garden. You'll enter into the exotic garden first. Pathways made of dark green marble tiles separate the garden beds along with a large pool, a small fountain, and an ornately carved wooden gazebo. Small irrigation canals extend along the walkways, allowing water to make its way to the exotic plants. The spring located at the center of the garden is the perfect place to enjoy a moment of peaceful meditation or prayer. Water is considered a symbol of life in Muslim culture and is important spiritually as it is used daily in cleansing rituals and preparation for prayer. 

Seating areas are located in intimate nooks throughout the garden, where you can relax for a while enjoying the lush surroundings. Small cafe tables are scattered on a marble patio and nestled amongst the massive columns. The cafe near the entrance serves mint tea, coffee, beer, fruit juice, and tasty light bites like paninis and quiche.

The garden and the surrounding palace date all the way back to the 16th century, and were originally constructed by the Saadian Sultan Moulay 'Ahb-Allah. The complex was destroyed during the fall of the Saadian dynasty, and was in ruins for many years until the kaid al-Hajj Abd-Allah U-Bihi acquired the land in the 19th century and began rebuilding the palace and restoring the gardens.

In a dramatic turn of events, he was killed using poisonous tea because the reigning Sultan believed he might be involved in suspicious conspiracies. After his murder, the palace and gardens passed hands several times to different people who were favored by the Sultan. Finally, when the Sultan was exiled in 1912, al-Hajj Muhammad Loukrissi moved into the dwelling and lived there until his death in the 1930s. The palace and gardens once again fell into disrepair until restorations began in 2008. It took eight years to fully restore the property, and the gardens opened to the public at last in 2016.

Now, visitors can explore the gardens daily starting at 9:30 in the morning. During the months of November through January you can visit until 6:00 p.m., or 6:30 p.m. from February through October. From March to September it remains open an extra hour until 7:30 p.m. The final admission is a half hour before closing. You can easily explore the entire garden in half an hour, but I recommend budgeting at least an hour to relax in the tranquility. The cost to visit the garden is around $10 per person, making it a great activity if you're traveling on a budget during your trip to Morocco.