Morocco has long been one of my favourite places in the world. I try to return whenever I can, sometimes for a holiday and sometimes combining work with pleasure. There is something endlessly fascinating about this country — from the Atlas Mountains to the sea, from the colours and spices of Marrakech to the souks, the food and, above all, the people one encounters along the way.

During a visit in 2017, we were introduced to a place outside Marrakech that has remained particularly vivid in my memory: Le Paradis du Safran, created by Swiss-born Christine Ferrari.

A dream at the foot of the Atlas

Christine Ferrari left her former life in Switzerland behind and began an entirely new chapter in Morocco. What sounds romantic in retrospect was anything but an easy path. Establishing herself as a European woman with an ambitious agricultural project required determination, patience and an extraordinary amount of work.

Saffron became both her passion and the heart of the project. Over the years she transformed the land into far more than a saffron farm: a lush garden filled with aromatic and medicinal plants, flowers, fruit trees, herbs and olive trees.

A garden for the senses

The pleasure of visiting Le Paradis du Safran is not simply learning about one of the world’s most precious spices. It is the experience of walking through the garden itself — discovering its plants, fragrances, textures and colours while the Atlas landscape forms the backdrop.

Around 20,000 square metres are devoted to saffron cultivation, while further areas are planted with aromatic and medicinal plants, flowers and fruit. During the saffron harvest, local Berber women traditionally join the work on the estate.

Time well spent

I particularly enjoyed taking the time to explore the property, followed by a traditional lunch in which saffron naturally played its part: a classic tajine, a delicate soup and tea prepared with herbs from the garden and, of course, saffron.

A visit here should not be rushed. With the journey from Marrakech, time in the gardens, the introduction to saffron and a meal, it can easily become a half-day excursion. That is precisely part of its charm.

A little red gold to take home

Before leaving, it is difficult to resist taking a little of the garden home. Saffron and aromatic tea blends make particularly beautiful reminders of the visit — small traces of the colours and fragrances of the Ourika Valley.

For me, Le Paradis du Safran is one of those discoveries that makes travelling worthwhile: personal, unexpected and created with conviction.