OUR STORY
The riad’s name is no accident – the address is whispered amongst the initiated like a best-kept secret.
To gain access you must be in the know.
Legend has it that the ‘Secret Garden’ was the folly of a rich Marrakchi, who built two almost identical riads side by side to house his lovers. One of the women was his favourite and he dedicated this beautiful setting to hide the immense love he had for her.
Behind the hidden door, you are enveloped by the magic of this little palace that seems straight out of 100 & 1 Nights.
The mix of zelliges and stuccos transport us to the heart of the Moorish civilisation. The magic unfolds. The riad seems suspended in time.
The Riad Jardin Secret got its second life thanks to Cyrielle and Julien, a creative duo from Paris who spent over 10 years working in the high trenches of the fashion industry.
In search of a more authentic life, the two Morocco-aficionados moved to Marrakech, where after months of research and visits through the maze that is the Marrakech medina, they found in a discrete passageway, a refuge of peace and inspiration.
“We pushed two grand cedar doors that led us to the sumptuous and intimate palace we now call home. Here, organic elements and ornamentations come together in the most authentic expression of Moroccan architecture.
Magic unravels. Time stops.”
A HISTORICALLY RICH AND “ANTI-MODERN” PLACE
In addition to creating Riad Jardin Secret, Cyrielle and Julien founded Rigotang, a contemporary art gallery located in the creative district of Sidi Ghanem, Marrakech.
Born from the artist residencies hosted at the Riad since 2015, Rigotang extends this dialogue between art, craft, and hospitality.
The gallery supports in-residence creation and showcases works conceived and produced in Marrakech by international and local artists. Paintings, sculptures, drawings, and ceramics come together as encounters — the result of shared gestures between artists and artisans.
Rigotang presents emerging and established contemporary artists through unique pieces, limited editions, and special commissions. Each exhibition celebrates exchange, experimentation, and the living heritage of Moroccan craftsmanship.
As founders, Cyrielle and Julien bring their sensibility for photography, design, and storytelling to every project. Through Rigotang, they continue to cultivate an approach to art that values sincerity over artifice — a bridge between Marrakech and the world.
