LOOK: The serene Moroccan garden that's become an Instagram hit

The garden - also rich in watery pools and jumbo succulents in bright pots - still bewitches with its far-from-the-dusty medina vibe. Picture: Instagram

The garden - also rich in watery pools and jumbo succulents in bright pots - still bewitches with its far-from-the-dusty medina vibe. Picture: Instagram

Published Aug 5, 2019

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Le Jardin Majorelle, rescued by Yves St. Laurent, is now overrun by tourists.

During their first jaunt to Morocco in 1966, French-Algerian fashion designer Yves St. Laurent and his lover and business partner Pierre Bergé discovered Marrakesh's Jardin Majorelle, a decrepit two-plus acre complex of plantings, cubist buildings and fountains created by early 20th-century French artist Jacques Majorelle in the tony Gueliz neighborhood.

A post shared by Curious in Morocco 🇲🇦(@captainandthegypsykid) on Aug 3, 2019 at 4:00pm PDT

The pair eventually bought the place in the Ocher City's Gueliz neighborhood (also called the European district) in 1980, saving it from a wrecking ball and restoring its distinctive blue-and-yellow-painted structures and spiky, striking cactus collection. They kept the garden open to the public and lived part of the year in a villa next door.

The garden - also rich in watery pools and jumbo succulents in bright pots - still bewitches with its far-from-the-dusty medina vibe. Except that the smallish gem is now the most visited attraction in all of Morocco, luring 850 000 tourists a year. Lines to buy tickets can snake for an hour or more in the often-sweltering weather. 

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#jardinmajorelle #marrakech #2k19 #coloryourlife #colorful #

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Once you're inside, the scene usually leans far from serene. Travellers clad in cobalt dresses or lemon-hued hats (the better to match the surroundings) swarm the blocky buildings and pack the palm-shaded paths, snapping selfies. 

The snug, on-site Berber Museum provides some crowd relief with exhibits of colorful costumes and angular jewelry from the Moroccan tribe that inspired both Majorelle and YSL.

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🌸🌵🌈

A post shared by Livia Stanisor(@liviastanisor) on Aug 5, 2019 at 12:27am PDT

Location: Rue Yves St. Laurent, Marrakesh, Morocco, jardinmajorelle.com

The Washington Post

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