This small botanical garden was created in the 1920s by French artist Jacques Majorelle and reflects his affection for contrast and strong color. The scent and color of bamboo thickets, huge cacti, multicolored bougainvillea, and towering palms is offset by the brilliant cobalt blue of Majorelle's former studio, now a small Museum of Islamic Arts. Inside are some of the artist's engravings and paintings of the Atlas range as well as a collection of North African artifacts largely belonging to the garden's most recent owner, Algerian-born designer Yves Saint Laurent, who holidayed in a villa nearby until his death in 2008. The garden is one of the city's more popular sights and, at only 4.8 hectares (12 acres), can become a little crowded at times. Nevertheless, the layout of the garden lends itself to a feeling of tranquillity and is a welcome break from the busy streets outside. There's a charming cafe tucked behind the museum, open the same hours as the gardens and serving tasty breakfasts and light lunches. A nice way to reach the garden from the medina is by horse-drawn calèche. The gardens are also a stop on the Marrakech City Sightseeing bus's "Romantique" circuit.