At 121 rue Mouassine, a ten-minute walk from Jemaa el-Fna square, Le Jardin Secret occupies a former palace complex whose origins go back to the second half of the 16th century, in the Saadian era. Rebuilt in the mid-19th century by the caid al-Hajj Abd-Allah U-Bihi, then bought in 1912 by al-Hajj Muhammad Loukrissi, it fell into ruin during the 20th century. Restored from 2013, with gardens designed by the British landscape architect Tom Stuart-Smith, it has been open to the public since 2016. Behind high walls, two riads and two very different gardens can be visited in about an hour: an exotic garden planted with species from all over the world and an Islamic garden restored to its 19th-century layout. A tower, at extra cost, offers a view over the rooftops of the medina and, on clear days, the Atlas.
Highlights
The Islamic garden
The large garden follows the four-part plan of gardens in the Islamic tradition, an evocation of paradise, with its paths, pools and central pavilion. The planting was chosen from species known in the 19th century. It is the largest space on the site, and the quietest early in the morning.
The exotic garden and planted paths
More intimate, the exotic garden brings together plants from several continents. Elsewhere on the site, citrus trees, olive trees and grasses line paved paths dotted with fountains, basins and benches.
The pavilions and the riads' decoration
The pavilions and reception rooms of the two riads keep the typical decoration of medina houses: zellige tilework, carved stucco and painted cedar wood. Look up inside the pavilions to see the painted ceilings.
Water and the tower
A khettara, an underground channel coming from the Atlas, once fed the site's fountains, pools and canals; traces of the system are still visible. The tower, which rises like a minaret, requires an extra ticket and offers a panorama over the medina and, on clear days, the mountains.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Admission costs 100 MAD (80 MAD up to age 24, 50 MAD for Moroccan citizens); tower access costs an extra 40 MAD (30 MAD reduced). Free for children under 12, with proof of age (prices checked in October 2026). The tower is off-limits to children under 6. A ticket is valid for one entry only; outside food is not allowed, but there are cafés on site. Large bags go in the free cloakroom. On rue Mouassine, ignore touts who claim the garden is closed in order to take you elsewhere.
How to get there
121 rue Mouassine, Marrakech medina. On foot: about 10 minutes from Jemaa el-Fna square, heading north along rue Mouassine (the souk district). By taxi: get dropped at Jemaa el-Fna square or near the Koutoubia, as the medina's lanes are closed to cars, then finish on foot.
Opening hours
Nearby
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