A different side of Marrakech: Nouvelle Ville and Jardin Majorelle
Nouvelle Ville
It all seems that Marrakech is a tale of two cities! There is the grand and old medina that brings you back a hundred years and then there is the Nouvelle Ville, a brand spanking new city... totally different yet so oddly familiar.
Leaving the Medina and passing through the modern and clean streets of Nouvelle Ville in Marrakech seems like entering into a new world.
Spotlessly clean and wide avenues; palm trees lining up on the pavements; parks, gardens and benches everywhere; sophisticated shops, bars, clubs and restaurants; a totally different world from the old ways and sights of the medina.
The new city’s architecture is very cosmopolitan but in a Moroccan way. Buildings are designed in pure Moroccan design and construction, indigenous materials were used and the uniformed terracotta color scheme adapted by every building in town represents a true Moroccan jive.
Before we had our Spa at Club Med we hired this horse drawn carriage (after a long price nego haha) to tour us around Nouvelle Ville and bring us to Jardin Majorelle. Nego tip: if you think the price quoted was too high, try walking away and you will be surprised to see them running after you and gladly accommodating your original asking price.
Unlike in the medina where the ways of the world is shunned, here alcohol is served in the many contemporary and trendy hotels, bars, restaurants and clubs.
To the locals, Nouvelle Ville is called Gueliz.
Jardin Majorelle
During the colonial period, Morocco was a protectorate of France, and naturally this result in the influx of French people moving in the country. One of the notable immigrants is the painter Jacques Majorelle who was caught by the beauty of the Berber regions in the High Atlas Mountains. In 1924 he built the garden, Jardin Majorelle. The garden reflects his choice of colours, strong, bold and mostly blue. Cobalt blue.
The colours used in the garden are bright, bold and strong, very artistic.
The garden has over 300 flora species and 15 bird species.
Entrance to the garden is 30 Dirhams and the queue is looooong but at least it was moving! It took us 15 minutes to get to the cashier and pay; the garden is sure a popular tourist attraction in Marrakech. A great place to spend a few hours to escape the hot sun and the chaos in the medina.
In 1980, the haute couture designer Yves Saint Laurent and his business partner (and ex lover) Pierre Berge bought the garden and restored it.
There is a memorial of Yves Saint Laurent erected in the garden however it is not really that extraordinary. See here: YSL Memorial. Being the fashion and style icon that YSL is, I was expecting a luxurious and elegant commemorative that reflects his grand existence.
It is nonetheless believed that the ashes of Yves Saint Laurent was scattered all over the garden.
Lovely cactus with flowers in bloom and hanging pink bougainvillas (love the colour contrast).
Bamboo vandalism. I quite like the etched graffiti on them. The bamboos now have more character... art. I don't know, maybe its just me.
The botanical garden is now home to a rare flora assortment of over 300 species of cactuses, palm trees, bamboos and aquatic plants. The garden also boasts a growing beautiful collection of birds, about 15 species in total.
Within the property is also an Islamic Art Museum. The personal collection of Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent are exhibited here. Pieces of jewelry, ceramic and paintings from Maghreb, the Orient, Africa and Asia are displayed in the museum.
Moroccan architecture and colour scheme: blue and green. The woman and the man in the first foto are not together. The man actually gave me a dirty look when I took this shot, lol. Its one of my favourite shots in Majorelle actually =)
The pond with the lilies and the turtles.
For those who want to have some refreshments, there is a café beside the museum, but you will be lucky to secure a seat as it seems to be always full!
More fotos of the garden can be found here: Jardin Majorelle - Marrakech, Morocco
Travel Period: April 2009
It all seems that Marrakech is a tale of two cities! There is the grand and old medina that brings you back a hundred years and then there is the Nouvelle Ville, a brand spanking new city... totally different yet so oddly familiar.
Leaving the Medina and passing through the modern and clean streets of Nouvelle Ville in Marrakech seems like entering into a new world.Spotlessly clean and wide avenues; palm trees lining up on the pavements; parks, gardens and benches everywhere; sophisticated shops, bars, clubs and restaurants; a totally different world from the old ways and sights of the medina.
The new city’s architecture is very cosmopolitan but in a Moroccan way. Buildings are designed in pure Moroccan design and construction, indigenous materials were used and the uniformed terracotta color scheme adapted by every building in town represents a true Moroccan jive.
Before we had our Spa at Club Med we hired this horse drawn carriage (after a long price nego haha) to tour us around Nouvelle Ville and bring us to Jardin Majorelle. Nego tip: if you think the price quoted was too high, try walking away and you will be surprised to see them running after you and gladly accommodating your original asking price.Unlike in the medina where the ways of the world is shunned, here alcohol is served in the many contemporary and trendy hotels, bars, restaurants and clubs.
To the locals, Nouvelle Ville is called Gueliz.
Jardin Majorelle
During the colonial period, Morocco was a protectorate of France, and naturally this result in the influx of French people moving in the country. One of the notable immigrants is the painter Jacques Majorelle who was caught by the beauty of the Berber regions in the High Atlas Mountains. In 1924 he built the garden, Jardin Majorelle. The garden reflects his choice of colours, strong, bold and mostly blue. Cobalt blue.
The colours used in the garden are bright, bold and strong, very artistic.The garden has over 300 flora species and 15 bird species.Entrance to the garden is 30 Dirhams and the queue is looooong but at least it was moving! It took us 15 minutes to get to the cashier and pay; the garden is sure a popular tourist attraction in Marrakech. A great place to spend a few hours to escape the hot sun and the chaos in the medina.
In 1980, the haute couture designer Yves Saint Laurent and his business partner (and ex lover) Pierre Berge bought the garden and restored it.
There is a memorial of Yves Saint Laurent erected in the garden however it is not really that extraordinary. See here: YSL Memorial. Being the fashion and style icon that YSL is, I was expecting a luxurious and elegant commemorative that reflects his grand existence.
It is nonetheless believed that the ashes of Yves Saint Laurent was scattered all over the garden.
Bamboo vandalism. I quite like the etched graffiti on them. The bamboos now have more character... art. I don't know, maybe its just me.The botanical garden is now home to a rare flora assortment of over 300 species of cactuses, palm trees, bamboos and aquatic plants. The garden also boasts a growing beautiful collection of birds, about 15 species in total.
Within the property is also an Islamic Art Museum. The personal collection of Pierre Berge and Yves Saint Laurent are exhibited here. Pieces of jewelry, ceramic and paintings from Maghreb, the Orient, Africa and Asia are displayed in the museum.
Moroccan architecture and colour scheme: blue and green. The woman and the man in the first foto are not together. The man actually gave me a dirty look when I took this shot, lol. Its one of my favourite shots in Majorelle actually =)The pond with the lilies and the turtles.For those who want to have some refreshments, there is a café beside the museum, but you will be lucky to secure a seat as it seems to be always full!
More fotos of the garden can be found here: Jardin Majorelle - Marrakech, Morocco
Travel Period: April 2009
