MARRAKECH CITY GUIDE / LA JARDIN MAJORELLE

In July 2017, I spent 10 wonderful (and hot) days in beautiful Morocco. Staying just outside of the city centre of Marrakech, the country's fifth largest city, in a lush area called Palmeraie, provided the escape from the bustling souks and busy lifestyle of the inner city.

I am putting together a five-part travel guide to the city, including feature posts on the best things to visit. The final post will include my top must-dos for Marrakech and some important tips for when you're there.

La Jardin Majorelle was the first and most 'essential' place on my list of things to see. It is a true treasure hidden in the heart of the Ville Nouvelle.

This twelve-acre botanical oasis was designed by expat French artist Jacques Majorelle and later owned by designer Yves Saint Laurent. After his passing in 2008, his ashes were scattered here, and a memorial was erected.

The canopy of exotic plants provides a welcome shade from the hot Marrakech sun.

The iconic blue of the main house in the Jardin Majorelle is completely unique. It was dubbed 'bleu Majorelle' after Jacques Majorelle created it for his garden.

La Jardin Majorelle features a gallery in tribute to Yves Saint Laurent, as well as the Berber museum, adding to the rich cultural experience.

The garden opens pretty early in the morning and closes around 5, though timings depend on the seasons and Ramadan. We arrived around 9.30 and found that it was cool enough to look around and there weren't too many people. This is a very popular destination for visitors, so the earlier you make it here, the better.

This slice of paradise is not worth missing.