Dar El Sadaka - A Private Estate Just Outside Marrakech, Where Art and Imagination Come to Life
Tucked beneath the whispering palms of Marrakech’s Palmeraie, lies a place that defies categorisation. Dar El Sadaka is not simply a villa - it is a living, breathing work of art. A sanctuary born of whimsy and wonder, sculpted into being, by the surreal vision of French artist Jean-François Fourtou.
Arriving here is like stepping out of time. A monumental giraffe leans gracefully over the ochre-toned house, as though welcoming you into a private myth. And in many ways, that’s exactly what Dar El Sadaka is: a myth made tangible, a dream with doors you can walk through.
The estate sprawls like a secret garden dreamt up in childhood and built in full adult colour. Giant ants march across manicured lawns. Enormous tortoises doze beside flowerbeds. And then there is the Upside-Down House, perhaps the most iconic of Fourtou’s works - a nostalgic, topsy-turvy home where gravity becomes irrelevant and your sense of play is reawakened. Every piece here is infused with meaning, memory and mischief.
Dar El Sadaka offers ten suites and bedrooms and ten bathrooms, each with its own soul and story. The villa accommodates up to 24 guests, with an additional private riad on the estate that can sleep four more. Every room draws on animal totems: the Donkey Room, simple and comforting; the Tortoise Suite, slow and contemplative; the Bee Room, buzzing with energy and light. Every cushion, every carved detail, is part of a living narrative.
But Dar El Sadaka is not only about art – it’s about immersion. Days unfold like chapters in a story: morning yoga beneath rustling olive trees; sun-soaked swims in the shimmering infinity pool; afternoons exploring fantastical installations or napping beneath mimosas. Come evening, candlelit dinners are served under star-drenched skies, perfumed by jasmine, with conversation flowing as freely as the local wine.
There’s no reception desk, no formality – just the sense that you’ve wandered into a dream already in progress, and somehow, it’s been waiting just for you.
Jean-François Fourtou – Architect of Memory
At the heart of Dar El Sadaka is the mind of Jean-François Fourtou, a French artist born in 1964 who creates not from observation but from memory - especially the surreal clarity of childhood. His work is tender, poetic and immersive. Animals are not symbols here, but equals. The tortoise, the donkey - each carries a presence of wisdom, stillness, and gentle grace.
Fourtou’s sculptures are meant to be entered, touched, felt. His Upside-Down House invites delight in disorientation. His Grandfather’s House, a scaled-down replica of a childhood home, turns adults into towering giants and offers a profound shift in perspective.
Dar El Sadaka is his sanctuary, and in opening it to others, he offers an invitation: to return to wonder, to slow down, to see the world with a child’s eyes.
Dar El Sadaka doesn’t merely host its guests, it transforms them. Please note: a minimum stay of 3 nights is required.
Dar El Sadaka isn’t on the usual tourist trail - and that’s exactly the point.
Some places aren’t meant to be visited.
They’re meant to be experienced.
Some dreams are meant to be lived.
Why book with us?
As soon as you contact us you will be talking directly to our people in Morocco, who will guide you through the reservation process and ensure you do not miss out on some amazing experiences in this beautiful country.
L’e Marquis offers complimentary airport transfers for groups of six or more. In addition, your welcome includes a bottle of wine, amenities and a bouquet of fresh flowers.
The Morocco-Luxury team is based ‘on-site’ and provides 24/7 assistance- a major advantage.
Guests are welcomed directly at the airport by the driver and one of our team
Throughout your stay we offer tailored support via WhatsApp at any time of the day, including customised itinerary planning, activity bookings, restaurant recommendations, and access to hidden spots. We also have special rates and included extras for this property"
When you book your stay with us, no request is too extravagant dar-el-sadaka
exemplifies our commitment to delivering the same lavish lifestyle service in all our destinations. Contact by email or +44 207 692 4092.
