The gardens of Agdal in Marrakech

The gardens of Agdal in Marrakech have already been created in the 12th century by the Almohads as an artificial oasis in the desert. After his model a lot more parks were built.

The gardens of Agdal in the Moroccan city of Marrakech were born in the middle of the 12th century, making it the oldest park in Marrakech. With the gardens of Menara, they are classified in UNESCO world heritage since 1985.

History of Agdal gardens in Marrakech

The gardens of Agdal in Marrakech were created in 1157 by the Almohad ruler Idris I al-Ma'mun, a welcome oasis in the middle of the desert. The term "Agdal" comes from the Berber language and means something like "walled meadow". After this example, many other gardens have been created, which have become a symbol of Almohad leaders, especially in Rabat (Gibraltar) and Seville (Spain).

With an incredible size of 500 hectares, Marrakech's gardens were almost as big as the city itself. The vast green areas are home to olive trees, orange and lemon trees, pomegranate trees, fig trees, walnut trees and almond trees, as well as palm trees and fragrant flowers. The flora of the gardens of the Agdal is much more diversified than that of the gardens of Menara. The fantastic flora was irrigated by a system of underground canals, through which the water of the Atlas Mountains, located several kilometers away, was transported to Marrakech.

The gardens of Agdal served as fruit producers, but also water parks and shaded, where the caliphs were walking. The idyllic atmosphere of the gardens of Agdal served as a backdrop to the high receptions of the leaders of Marrakech. Interestingly, the gardens of Agdal have also been used for military purposes. In their pools, the Alhambad soldiers learned to swim before embarking on the long journey across the Mediterranean to get to al-Andalus in what is now Spain.

When the residence of the leaders was moved to Fes, the gardens of Agdal have lost their importance. The first renovation of the gardens took place in the 16th century among the Saadians, who planted 26,000 olive trees, but the gardens are still decomposed. The current appearance of the gardens of Agdal and its surrounding wall dates back to the nineteenth century.

Visit the gardens of Agdal in Marrakech

Today, the gardens of Agdal in Marrakech, south of the royal palace, are still several kilometers. The green oasis is dotted with picturesque pavilions that seem randomly scattered in an idyllic landscape. Three pools, the largest of which is over 200 m long, provide a pleasant atmosphere. On the shore of the largest basin, the "Sahraj al-Hana" ("health basin") is the Dar al-Hana Palace, whose view overlooks the summit of the High Atlas.

Dar el-Beida, north-west of the Agdal gardens, is another highlight of the architecture. Here, the royal family resides when it is present in Marrakech. The palace is 120m x 140m, perhaps not very large, but it is decorated with great art and will do justice to a sovereign seat in all cases.

Unfortunately, only a few parts of the garden can be visited and only if the sultan's family is not present.