The Menara Gardens: A Historical Treasure of Marrakech
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The Menara Gardens, located in Marrakech, Morocco, are a historic and beautiful public garden and orchard. Founded in the 12th century (around 1157) by Abd al-Mu'min, the ruler of the Almohad Caliphate, these gardens are an important symbol of Marrakech’s heritage. They have been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1985, alongside the Agdal Gardens and the historic city of Marrakech.
The Origins of the Menara Gardens
The Menara Gardens were first created by Abd al-Mu'min, the Almohad ruler who took over Marrakech. Historical records show that Abd al-Mu'min built a large estate west of the city, which included two significant water reservoirs. One of these reservoirs is the large basin seen in the Menara Gardens today. The other, known as the "Basin of the Cattle" (Sahrij al-Baqar), is now located southeast of the Menara Gardens, near the Agdal Gardens. Though it is no longer used, it was once part of the same estate.
This estate was surrounded by a six-mile-long wall that has since disappeared. The name "Basin of the Cattle" may have referred to a nearby cattle market or bull-baiting events held there during the reign of the following Almohad caliph, Yusuf al-Mansur. The location of the Menara Gardens to the west of the city's walls fits with the fact that Abd al-Mu'min used the earlier Almoravid palace, the "Palace of the Stones" (Qasr al-Hijar), near the site of the Koutoubia Mosque, as his residence.
Architectural and Cultural Importance
The Menara Gardens are designed around a central water basin and a pavilion, with the current pavilion being from the 19th century. The reservoir and its pavilion are often set against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains to the south, making them iconic features of Marrakech.
The exact origin of the name "Menara" is unclear. The earliest mention of the name is from 1579 during the Saadian period, referring to the "Menara Basin." In Arabic, "Menara" can mean various things, such as a minaret or lighthouse. Some historians suggest that the name refers to the two-story pavilion at the edge of the main reservoir. Others, like Gaston Deverdun, believe the name might date back to the Almohad period and refer to the Koutoubia Minaret, established during Abd al-Mu'min's reign.
During the Almohad era, the Menara Gardens were used as a training ground for soldiers in swimming and naval combat before they were sent to the Iberian Peninsula or to protect Morocco’s coast from European attacks. The gardens were adorned with olive trees in the early 12th century, adding to their historical value.
Historical sources also mention that the gardens and their location were called "Shontololia." It is possible that an engineer from Málaga named Al-Hajj Yash designed the gardens, as he was responsible for other projects during Abd al-Mu'min’s reign, like the mechanical pavilion and the Koutoubia Minbar. Records also suggest that the second reservoir (Sahrij al-Baqar) was used to train "Hafiz" (Qur'an reciters) in swimming.
Restoration and Preservation
After the Almohads fell in the 13th century, the gardens and city fell into disrepair as the Marinids moved the capital to Fez. However, in the 16th century, when the Saadian dynasty made Marrakech the capital again, they restored the city’s gardens. The Saadians built a pleasure pavilion overlooking the water reservoir. The current state of the Menara Gardens owes much to the reigns of two Alaouite sultans, Moulay Abd al-Rahman (1822-1859) and his son Muhammad IV (1859-1873). They restored and replanted both the Menara and Agdal Gardens. Muhammad IV also built the current pavilion on the ruins of the Saadian one, completing it in 1870. Until the early 20th century, the gardens were used for ostrich farming, a tradition among Moroccan sultans who showcased exotic wildlife to impress and entertain guests.
Garden Design and Layout
Today, the Menara Gardens are a classic example of Moroccan royal garden design. They are similar to other royal gardens such as the Agdal Gardens in Marrakech, the Saadian Pools in Meknes, and the Jardin de la Salamandre in Fes. The layout and design of the Menara Gardens are thought to be inspired by the gardens of Andalusia.
The gardens are located on flat land west of the city, outside the historic city walls and close to Menara Airport. They feature a large central water basin and a historic pavilion surrounded by a large orchard. The entire area covers about 1200 meters from northwest to southeast and between 720 and 800 meters from southwest to northeast. The water basin is rectangular, measuring 195 meters long and 160 meters wide.
The Orchard and Irrigation System
Moroccan royal gardens like the Menara were primarily designed for agricultural use, with leisure being a secondary purpose. Although detailed archaeological studies are limited, historical texts provide information about the types of trees and crops grown, mostly fruit trees and olive trees. Today, the orchard mainly consists of olive trees, with fewer fruit trees and cypress trees, arranged in a regular pattern of 10-meter intervals.
The gardens are irrigated using a traditional system called "Khatara," which needs regular maintenance. This system can be vulnerable to desertification during periods of neglect. The large water basins were built to store significant amounts of water, ensuring that the gardens could be irrigated throughout the year, even during dry seasons. Water was brought to the gardens through underground channels, relying on gravity to transport water from higher elevations, such as the nearby Atlas Mountains. The Menara water basin itself is elevated to allow gravity to assist in irrigation. The walkway around the basin is accessible by various stairways, and there is a small decorative octagonal pool and a previous fountain at the base of the northern staircase.
Pavilion Architecture
The 19th-century Menara Pavilion is made of stone and features a rectangular two-story design topped with a traditional pyramid-shaped roof covered in green tiles. It is a classic example of Moroccan pavilion architecture from the Alaouite period. The ground floor, which was functional and used for daily activities, includes a large room supported by four heavy columns, and an exterior portico with three arches opening onto the artificial lake. The entrance is on the southern side of the building. The upper floor, accessed via a steep staircase of 25 steps, contains a large square room with a low rectangular door leading to a balcony on the northern side, above the portico. The low door likely prevented people below from seeing inside the building when it was open. The staircase continues to the roof, where a smaller balcony on the southern side offers views of the orchards and the Atlas Mountains. The pavilion is also surrounded by a small private garden enclosed by an additional wall, separating it from the public spaces around it.
Compared to earlier Moroccan architecture, the pavilion’s decoration is relatively simple. The outer corners and edges of the pavilion are painted to resemble masonry, while geometric and calligraphic patterns adorn the southern entrance door and some windows. The northern balcony door overlooking the water is framed by a prominent semicircular arch. The arch's supports are decorated with Arabic designs, topped by a narrow horizontal band inscribed with Arabic script that includes the construction date (1286 AH). All decorations are done in ochre colors on plaster that covers the building inside and out. The interior rooms feature painted lines highlighting the ceilings, carved and painted plaster patterns around windows and doors, and painted wooden ceilings and doors.