Sussex Exclusive Magazine Edition II 2022

...originally
designed to
house a harem,
with a central
courtyard and
surrounding
rooms for the
concubines!
Bahia Palace
A little to the south east of the mosque is this
stunning 19 th century palace with marble
courtyards, stuccos, mosaics, intricately engraved
wood and plasterwork and little oases of floral
calm. It feels tranquil and cool after the bustle of
the Medina and it’s easy to understand why the
King of Morocco used it as a palace.
But it’s also worth bearing in mind that it was
originally designed to house a harem, with a
central courtyard and surrounding rooms for the
concubines! It gets busy but there are still some
excellent photo opportunities.
Le Jardin Secret
Another perfect escape from the madness of the
Medina is this magnificent palace and gardens
that date back to the 16 th century and has been
home to some of the great and the good of
Morocco. There are two main buildings namely
the riad and the tower, with inlaid cedar wood,
hand-carved stuccos and geometric designs with
two main gardens, namely the Exotic Garden and
the Islamic Garden.
La Mamounia
There are a number of exceptional hotels in
Marrakesh, but if you want outstanding opulence
and luxury, head to the La Mamounia, favourite
hangout of Winston Churchill and set in its own
17 acres of grounds in the Medina. If you can’t
afford to stay here you might want to pop in for
a pre-dinner drink, but beware there is a dress
code, and a single drink is likely to set you back
at least £20.
The Jardin Majorelle
Just outside the Medina, to the north east, The
Jardin Majorelle is both exotic and evocative. You
can book online in advance, but we didn’t and
didn’t have to queue for long.
The French painter Jacques Majorelle began
planting here in 1922, with botanical specimens
from around the world. Yves Saint Laurent and
Pierre Bergé bought the gardens in 1966 and these
days they are a heady combination of exotic plants,
bold colours and Art Deco style with the feel of an
oasis. It’s also home to The Pierre Bergé Museum of
Berber Arts (there is an additional fee for this).
74 | sussexexclusive.com