At La Mamounia, an elegant property on the edge of the walls of the old city of Marrakech, you can wander out the back door, and play a round of boules in the middle of the orange grove. La Mamounia is named after its legendary 200-year-old gardens — originally given as an 18th century wedding gift among royals — and the lush property remains the focus of the storied hotel. The hotel first opened its doors in 1923 and has long been a playground for an international elite; it’s easy to picture Winston Churchill strolling the grounds with a lightly chilled glass of Pastis, perhaps stopping to smell the orange blossoms. Today, the gardens include various species of tomatoes, green and yellow zucchini, carrots, radishes, lettuce and herbs, such as lemongrass, mint, violet and basil, many of which are incorporated into the hotel’s Moroccan, French and Italian dishes.
Amongst the park, guests will find 700 oranges, 5,000 roses, 21 species of cacti, 6 of palm trees, 200 olive trees. The park and gardens have been treated by the hands of passionate Moroccan gardeners for more than 90 years, and the gardens continue to grow each year. Within the park, the Menzeh Pavilion invites visitors to calm and reveries amongst the dozens of orange and lemon trees perfectly aligned against an arrange of cacti. Beyond the Menzeh Flag sits a beautiful vegetable garden of 1,500 square meters where gardeners and chefs meet every day to pick and care for one of the treasures of La Mamounia.
When you are planning your trip to our favorite Moroccan spot, be sure to pack the perfect caftan to wear as you stroll through the gardens of La Mamounia. You will be the envy of everyone’s Instagram feed!
