Picnicking is one of the most calming activities where you connect with the outdoors and unwind from the hustle and bustle of city life. Believe it or not the activity is said to be ‘invented’ by the French. Finding a garden where you can relax and take a break from your daily routine is vital for the perfect picnic. There are various activities to do once you’ve found a suitable garden, and Morocco thankfully, is home to exquisite gardens that highlight nature’s beauty and amazing green landscapes.
Anima garden
Anima is one of the most beautiful gardens in the world located in Marrakesh, Morocco. The two-hectare botanical garden was created by the famous Austrian artist André Heller. Visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, particularly Mount Toubkal, in addition to the greenery, art, and sculptures you’ll find there. Anima Garden also has two museum rooms where artists from all around the world exhibit their work. The Café Paul Bowles onsite serves exquisite Moroccan and international cuisines. All of the meals include spices and ingredients from the garden, such as saffron, herbs, and olives.
Le Jardin Secret
You will have the opportunity to visit one of the most stunning gardens in the Middle East and Africa. This is Marrakesh’s Le Jardin Secret, which has just opened to the public. The Secret Garden complex has been around since the Saadian Dynasty, more than 400 years ago. Le Jardin Secret, which was rebuilt in the mid-nineteenth century, has been home to some of Morocco’s most powerful political personalities. It’s a magnificent example of Arab-Andalusian and Moroccan palaces, brimming with intricate Islamic art and architecture.
Jardin Majorelle
Jacques Majorelle, a French landscape painter who had relocated to Marrakech in 1919, designed the garden in 1924, it was opened to the public in 1947. Yves Saint Laurent has owned the garden since 1980. The Islamic Art Museum of Marrakech, a museum with varied Islamic artwork, is located in the park. It is one of the city’s most charming and calming parks, thanks to its brilliant colors, fountains, and exotic flora. Another advantage is that the Marjorelle Garden’s trees and greenery provide shade during the hot summer days. The garden is fairly extensive, with a diverse collection of plants and flowers including palm trees, cacti, and garden plants.
La Mamounia
Stretching over 8 hectares is the breathtaking sweeping panorama of La Mamounia gardens at Marakech. The entire park is home to hundreds of olive trees, some as old as 700 years as well as bougainvilleas, cacti, delphiniums, jacarandas orange trees, palm trees, rose bushes and lemon trees. Anyone visiting this park will be able to soak in all that nature by walking through its many paths that cut through its endless greenery.
El Bahia Palace
Set within a massive estate is El Bahia Palace, a 19th century building with stunning stuccos, paintings and mosaics as well as a set of gardens located in Marrakech, Morocco. Arriving at the estate, you will bear witness to a large 2-acre garden that is still planted with trees all the way back from the 19th Century. The exquisitely landscaped garden has a trail that cuts through the center of the complex, leading to a colossal courtyard with an entirely marble floor.
Jnan Sbil
Following a journey through the bustling intensity of Fez’s Medina, visitors find respite at the lush gardens of Jnan Sbil, a public garden covering 18.5 acres. Along with the garden, there are attractive fountains, and plants of over 3000 different species. Beyond the rich greenery, the garden is also known to run alongside some of the Fez river. With it being a popular open space, it is also known to be used as a venue for the annual World Sacred Music Festival.
Ain Asserdoun
For the ultimate experience of respite and calmness, you should visit Ain Asserdoun, home to a cascading waterfall set along a landscape of endless greenery. That combination of water and greenery make the ultimate natural spot to unwind and have a full fledged picnic.
So, what is the significance of World Picnic Day? It’s simple to celebrate because a picnic can be easily set up and, best of all, no one has to clean up their house the next day. A lovely garden, some food, and a group of people are all you need. It has the ability to bring people together. International Picnic Day is the epitome of a social holiday and there is no better place to celebrate it than in any of these Moroccan gardens.
