Menara gardens

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Menara surrounded by the gardens. The basin is seen at the front. The Atlas mountains are seen at the background.

Menara gardens are located at the west of Marrakech, Morocco at the gates of the Atlas mountains. They were built in the 12th century (c. 1130) by the Almohad ruler Abd al-Mu'min.

The menara term has been added after the present structure (the pavillon) was founded in the 19th century by the Alaouite ruler Abderrahmane of Morocco where he used to stay in summertime.

[edit] Irrigation

The gardens contain a pavilion and a basin (an artificial lake) surrounded by orchards and olive groves. The intention of the basin was to irrigate the surrounding gardens and orchards using a sophisticated system called Qanat. The basin is supplied with water thanks to an old hydraulic system which conveys water from the mountains located at 30 km approximately away from Marrakech.

[edit] See also

• Majorelle gardens

[edit] Sources

• Macconi, Ennio (1995) - Marrakech, p. 81-83.

• Bhachem-Benkirane, Narjess and Philippe Saharoff (1990) - Marrakech: Demeures et Jardins Secrets. Paris: ACR Edition, pp. 24-26.

Coordinates: 31°36′48″N, 8°01′18″W