Place
Bouknadel Wonder Gardens are located in the town of Sidi Bouknadel north of Salé, on the Kenitra road (national road 1), 13 km away. It is located on the west side of the road on a long plot (east-west) of approximately four hectares.
History
The gardens were created by the French horticultural engineer Marcel François (1900-1999) on land he bought in 1949. He wanted to produce tropical plants for an outdoor aquarium, which would be shipped and marketed in France. He built his house on this land, which is now the museum, and built gardens: besides the production of plants, he intended to develop a scenography for educational and environmental purposes that offers gardens from different regions of the world . The parks were opened to the public in 1961.
In 1973, "Marocanisation" transferred the ownership of the gardens to the Moroccan state (Ministry of Agriculture), but Marcel François remained the director. In 1981, he lost control of the site, which prompted him to leave Morocco permanently in 1984. The gardens then went through a period of abandonment.
In 2002, the BMCE Foundation for Education and the Environment, together with the Mohamed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection, headed by Princess Lalla Hasnaa, daughter of King Hassan II, rehabilitated the gardens that were opened to the public again in 2005.
Description
Exotic gardens include many diverse spaces. "Nature gardens" are inspired by the wilderness of different regions of the world (Antilles, Congo, shrubs savannah, Brazil, etc.), while "gardens of culture" refer to spaces marked by human hands: Andalusian garden, Chinese garden, Japanese garden.
The museum, installed in the former house of Marcel François, presents the history of the site, from its creation to its recent renovation, as well as the works of the Mohamed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection. The gardens also include a cage, a basin (reptile) and a labyrinth.
Practical
Information Parks are open every day, except Monday morning, Eid al-Adha and Eid al-Fitr, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in fall, winter and 7 p.m. 30 hours in spring and summer. Guided tours are organized for groups. The Moroccan café located within the gardens near the entrance serves light snacks and refreshments. The kiosk near the museum serves drinks, ice cream, etc.
