The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech honours the YSL founder through archives of his work and creative process.
Yves Saint Laurent was one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th century. As a teenager, he began his career at Dior, where Christian Dior himself mentored him. After Dior’s death in 1957, Saint Laurent became the artistic director of the House of Dior at just 21 years old.
In 1961, he and his partner, Pierre Bergé, founded the fashion house Yves Saint Laurent in Paris. He helped popularise ready-to-wear luxury fashion through his Rive Gauche boutiques. This made designer clothing more accessible beyond haute couture clients. Today, YSL remains one of the world’s most recognisable luxury fashion brands.
What does YSL have to do with Morocco?
Saint Laurent and Bergé first visited Morocco in 1966, a trip that marked a turning point in his creative journey. Inspired by the country’s colours, culture, and light, Saint Laurent began incorporating richer and bolder colour combinations into his collections. Morocco became a lifelong source of inspiration for him. The pair eventually purchased properties in the country, returning regularly over the years.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech
Photo: João Braga
Opened in 2017, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakech is dedicated to the founder of luxury fashion brand YSL. Visitors can explore the exhibition hall featuring his key works, alongside accessories, sketches, jewellery, and runway materials. The museum also hosts rotating temporary exhibitions, sometimes in collaboration with international artists and institutions.
Beyond the galleries, the museum includes an auditorium for lectures, film screenings, conferences, and cultural events. A library offers books, archives, and documents related to Yves Saint Laurent, as well as broader works on fashion, art, and Moroccan culture. The complex also features Café Le Studio, a minimalist space inspired by Saint Laurent’s Paris workspace on Avenue Marceau, along with a bookshop and boutique offering exhibition catalogues, photography books, and curated design objects.
Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech
Open every day, except Wednesdays, from 10:00 – 18:30.
Jardin Majorelle
Just a stone’s throw from the YSL Museum is Jardin Majorelle, a botanical garden created by French painter Jacques Majorelle in the 1920s. Saint Laurent and Bergé purchased the garden and its adjacent villa in 1980 to save them from demolition. They restored both properties, which eventually became their main base in Marrakech. After Saint Laurent died in 2008, his ashes were scattered in the garden.
Today, Jardin Majorelle is open to the public and is known for its striking architectural elements painted in vivid shades of blue and yellow. Visitors can wander through a curated landscape of cacti, bamboo, palms, fountains, and shaded pathways. The villa within the iconic garden also houses the Musée Berbère, opened in 2011 and showcasing Amazigh art and heritage.
Jardin Majorelle
Open every day, from 08:00 – 18:30.
Pierre Bergé Museum of Berber Arts
Open every day, from 08:30 – 18:00.
Is It Worth Visiting?
Inside Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech. Photo: Lord Acuña
A visit here offers a fascinating glimpse into the legacy of one of fashion’s greatest icons. From the museum’s exhibitions to the beauty of Jardin Majorelle, the complex is a worthwhile addition to your Marrakech itinerary. My personal favourite was the garden with the distinct shade of cobalt blue everywhere. My friend João and I also loved the minimalist canvas tote bag we picked up at the gift shop.
Allow yourself plenty of time to explore both attractions and make the most of your visit.
Yves Saint Laurent Museum, Rue Yves St Laurent, Marrakech 40000, Morocco
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