"Miroir d'eau" optical illusion was invented by André Le Nôtre in XVIIth century in Vaux le Viconte (near Paris). As one of the most intriguing trick of "Art des Jardins", it consists in allowing a building to reflect itself in a basin. At Bois-Briand, this effect is achieved in a "miroir d'eau" built 100 meters away from the castle. This "miroir d'eau" is 100 meters long. It closes the "Jardin de la Quintinie", a 100 meters square garden planted with pear-trees alongside 6 meters high surrounding walls.
In Bordeaux, facing the Chamber of Commerce, a "miroir d'eau" was built during the recent years. It faces both a wonderful 18th century set of buildings and the Garonne river. To compare Bois-Briand and Bordeaux "miroirs d'eau" would not be fair. Even if the sizes are comparable. Bois-Briand "miroir d'eau" was, also designed as a "théatre de verdure", a place for horses where to drink before and after hunting, a pond for boating and theater exhibitions, a "reservoir" for fishing. See, below, Bois-Briand "miroir d'eau"...
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