Le Jardin Secret

About this place

Le Jardin Secret, «the Secret Garden», is a set of restored gardens inside the walls of an old palace in the Mouassine district of the medina of Marrakech, a few steps from the souk lanes and about 1 km from Jemaa el-Fnaa square. The site's origins go back to the second half of the 16th century, when the Saadian sultan Moulay Abdallah developed the Mouassine district. A palace stood here and was destroyed towards the end of the 17th century, after the decline of the Saadian dynasty. In the 19th century it became one of the largest riads in the medina. After a long restoration the gardens opened to the public in 2016. They were designed by the British garden designer Tom Stuart-Smith, after excavation uncovered the old irrigation system dating from the 16th century. There are two gardens: an Islamic garden laid out by strict geometric rules, with paths, water channels and orange and olive trees, and an exotic garden with plants from around the world. Carved and painted wooden pavilions and fountains stand among them. The garden is a quiet oasis amid the bustle of the city, and early morning is the calmest time to visit. It is easy to combine with the souks of Marrakech and the nearby Ben Youssef Madrasa.