Where are we?
Head northeast out of Marrakech and you find yourself in the Palmeraie, a lush district with shades of Palm Springs: endless palms, manicured greenery, sprawling resorts and, yes, golf courses. In the heart of this oasis, just ten minutes from the medina, lies Jnane Rumi. It is not a hotel in the traditional sense but a picture-perfect sanctuary made for rest and retreat.
The story
The property has a rich history. Designed by the Tunisian-born architect Charles Boccara, it was once home to Paul Pascon, one of Morocco’s most revered sociologists. When the Dutch art and culture lovers Gert and Corinne van den Bergh discovered it, they were immediately drawn to its architecture and history, and they restored the house with great sensitivity, keeping its character while filling it with fresh energy.
It is a deeply personal project that blends Moroccan tradition with a subtle European touch, captured in the name: “Jnane” means garden in Arabic, and “Rumi” is a nod both to the Persian Sufi poet and to the Arabic word for Roman.
The Hotel
The property has eleven rooms with private bathrooms, spread across the main house, three smaller pavilions and a private annex with its own pool. The Dutch-Moroccan designer Mina Abouzahra helped make the interiors feel natural and layered: vintage pieces collected over the years, local crafts, bold textiles and classic bejmat tiles that tie it all together. It feels personal, never staged; every item has been chosen with purpose. There are two pools, a hammam, a massage room and generous communal spaces for long lunches and slow afternoons.
But the garden is where the magic happens. Walking among the trees in the golden Moroccan light, which arrives early, around 5:30 p.m., is moving. A deep calm sets in, and you could easily lose track of time.
It truly feels like spending time at a friend’s house. Make yourself a coffee and take a walk around the property (don’t forget your camera). At some point, wandering between the pavilions, you will suddenly realize just how stunning this place is.
For Art Lovers
What we love most about Jnane Rumi is its deep commitment to art, not as decoration but as part of the hotel’s essence. The walls display works by many artists: photographs, paintings and even pieces painted directly on the plaster. The Moroccan artist Samy Snoussi curated the collection and painted a masterful fresco in the tearoom himself. The Italian artist Roberto Ruspoli, whose work also graces Soho House Paris, created three lovely frescoes, and a large piece by the French artist and designer Louis Barthélemy brings the living room to life.
The Rooms
We’ll be honest: Usually, one room stands out as our favorite, but at Jnane Rumi, it is hard to choose. If you love a stunning bathroom, book the Kimya Suite, whose bathroom ceilings are as lofty as a church’s. Gert’s personal favorite is the Shams Suite, with its traditional Berber ceiling and lovely garden view. But every room is distinctive and surprising in its own way. The rooms in the main house are spacious, at 32 to 55 square meters (345 to 590 square feet); those in the pavilions are a little smaller.
Culinary
The kitchen concept comes from Karin Gaasterland, known in Marrakech from the iconic El Fenn: simple, vegetable-led dishes with Moroccan and French influences. For us, the highlight is breakfast, a classic Moroccan spread with European touches, a combination that never fails. Lunch and dinner are also served, and if you get the chance, take a walk through the garden with Gert, who uses the Merlin Bird ID app to identify the birds you hear in the morning, when the light is soft and the world feels still.
The Owners
Gert van den Bergh has had a great passion for music and the arts for more than 30 years. He studied piano at the École Normale de Musique de Paris before earning his law degree at Columbia Law School. Following both heart and head, he combined his two passions and in 2004 founded his own Amsterdam art law firm, Bergh Stoop & Sanders, which handles some of the world’s most high-profile art restitution cases.
Corinne is a sculptor and body-oriented therapist with her own practice in Amsterdam, and she plans to organize retreats and seminars at Jnane Rumi.
Combine With
Spend a week at Jnane Rumi, then head west to our dear member Villa Laba, Filippa Knutsson’s retreat south of Essaouira. Gert also recommends a few extra days at Villa Mabrouka in Tangier, the former home of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, beautifully restored and turned into a hotel by the designer Jasper Conran.
Prices
Doubles from 500 euros per night.
Booking & Contact
Jnane Rumi
Rue Asasoussane Mejjat 2
Nakhil Nord, Palmeraie
Marrakech / Morocco
