For André Heller, Morocco has been the love story of his life. Since 1972, he has returned to the country every year, captivated by its landscapes, culture and spirit like no other place in the world. Opened in 2016, ANIMA Garden is, in his own words, a form of self-portrait – bringing together his lifelong fascination with light, colour, botany and wind in one artistic masterpiece. Just as multifaceted and ever-changing as Heller himself, the vast garden reveals an extraordinary world of plants, sculptures, colours and forms.

Visitors strolling through ANIMA Garden would hardly imagine that this lush paradise once consisted of nothing more than barren land. For André Heller, creating the garden was a long and deeply personal journey, from the very first idea to the planting of the final tree. With remarkable logistical effort, ancient trees, towering cacti and fully grown palm trees were carefully transported from across Morocco and replanted here, creating the unique landscape visitors experience today.

Photo credits: ANIMA/Stefan Liewehr

Stepping into ANIMA Garden truly feels like experiencing what André Heller describes as the Return to Paradise. Visitors are immediately immersed in the remarkable energy that flows throughout the garden. It is a place that awakens the senses, stirs the imagination and invites reflection. Exotic melodies, vibrant colours, artistic installations and extraordinary landscapes blend into a unique rhythm where the beauty of nature and art become one.

For André Heller, ANIMA is a sanctuary for peace, contemplation and renewal – a place where visitors are encouraged to slow down, gather their thoughts and reconnect with nature. Whether it is a vast botanical landscape or a modest private garden, Heller believes every garden has the power to nurture wellbeing and remind us of what truly matters. In his view, we often underestimate the restorative and inspiring influence of nature, perhaps because it is more accessible than we realise.

Hundreds of carefully selected plant species combine to create a vibrant symphony of colours, fragrances and textures. Palm trees, ancient olive trees, rosemary, orange trees and lavender grow alongside sculptures by renowned artists including Keith Haring, Pablo Picasso and Auguste Rodin, breathing new life into the surrounding landscape. For Heller, these artworks are creative interpretations of nature itself, transforming the garden into a place of discovery, contemplation, and quiet wandering. At the end of the garden, a museum designed by renowned architect Carmen Wiederin hosts changing exhibitions featuring paintings, photography and cultural objects from around the world, offering visitors fresh perspectives and new inspiration.

From the outset, André Heller envisioned something very different from an exclusive retreat for a privileged few. Instead, he wanted to create a garden that provides meaningful employment while offering every visitor a place of tranquillity, shade and relaxation.

Amid Morocco’s warm climate, ANIMA invites guests to pause beneath ancient trees, recharge and escape everyday life. Located on the rural outskirts of Marrakesh at the foothills of the 4,167-metre High Atlas Mountains, the garden also contributes significantly to improving the local microclimate. Equally important to Heller is its social impact. Gardeners, craftsmen, suppliers, and specialists from neighbouring villages all play an essential role in maintaining ANIMA as what he describes as “a school of wonder, inspiration, peace and the highest spiritual quality.”

The lush vegetation of ANIMA would not exist without a reliable water supply. An 80-metre-deep well provides the garden with the water needed to flourish, creating a remarkable green oasis within Morocco’s otherwise arid landscape. One of the garden’s most striking features is its dramatic setting. As visitors wander among exotic plants and flowering gardens, breathtaking views of the often snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains provide an unforgettable backdrop – making ANIMA one of Morocco’s most extraordinary destinations.