THE MENARA
Imperial Agdal
In the 12th century, when Berber king Sultan Abd el
Moumen wanted to demonstrate his power over all
things, including nature, he built two huge
agdal
(
from
the Berber for ‘meadow on the banks of a wadi’)
orchard gardens, set on a grid system and watered
from enormous raised basins.
The larger of these, known simply as the Agdal, was
once embroidered with lines of cypress, fountains,
kiosks and trellises of roses, honeysuckle and jasmine.
Described by British celebrity gardener Monty Don as
being “of international cultural importance on a par
with Versailles’” and still owned by the king, it can be
visited on Fridays and Sundays. Nevertheless has an
unkempt look and is now the subject of a much-
needed restoration.
Its smaller sister garden, the Menara, however,
is easier to get to, more intimate and has the beautiful
backdrop of the Atlas Mountains. Just 2km
west of the Koutoubia Mosque, this smaller agdal is
a favourite spot for locals to take a stroll around the
magnificent basin or picnic beneath one of the
40
varieties of olive trees grown here. Get off the
beaten track into the groves and you’ll find yourself
in another world.
0 8 5
S E C R E T G A R D E N S
M A R R A K E C H
