Exposition Mystification – Architecture et cinéma, la quête de l’illusion
Exposition Mystification – Architecture et cinéma, la quête de l’illusion
[TEMPORARY EXHIBITION]
At a time when the boundaries between reality and fiction are blurring, architecture and cinema come together to invite you to enjoy an immersive visual experience through the art of illusion.
This unique exhibition highlights how architecture, with its bold facades and innovative structures, uses trompe-l'oeil to challenge the notion of space, while cinema, through its sets and special effects, plays with our perception to transport us into unreal worlds.
Navigate between impressive cinema sets, architectural models that defy the laws of perspective, immersive projections and paintings by the artist Claude Gazier in each room.
Last but not least, come and meet "Beauty and the Beast" with a reconstruction of the sets from Jean Cocteau's film.
ROOM 1
The foundations of illusion
The history of trompe-l'oeil in architecture, from the illusions of the Parthenon in Athens,
Renaissance murals, the visionary architecture of Claude-Nicolas Ledoux, and contemporary facades that play with perspective.
At the same time, a chronology of cinema will show how the first special effects used illusion techniques to fill the viewer with wonder.
ROOM 2
Architecture as a stage
Through projections, photographs, original posters, film extracts and architects' plans, discover how emblematic locations have been modified or magnified on screen, such as the Royal Salt Works in Dom Juan or the Trevi Fountain in La Dolce Vita.
ROOM 3
Fusion of the virtual and the real
Architecture becomes a living stage where history is re-enacted, where space is re-appropriated through intimate and epic narratives, blurring the boundaries between fiction and reality.
Explore how techniques for creating virtual worlds in video games are now influencing cinema.
ROOM 4
From the big screen to the big city
Anticipation and animation films have had a profound influence on contemporary architecture, projecting radical visions of space and habitat.
La Planète sauvage, 2001: L'Odyssée de l'espace, Renaissance... these films don't just imagine the future: they design it, influencing architects and town planners in their quest for new spatialities.
ROOM 5
The eternal quest for illusion
The exhibition will conclude with a reflection on man's ongoing pursuit to create, distort and play with reality with the help of artificial intelligence.
Whether it's constructing gravity-defying buildings or creating cinematic worlds that transport the viewer, architecture and cinema continue to evolve together, magnifying the art of illusion.
ROOM 6
Beauty and the Beast
In the vaulted basement of the Saline Royale's central building, immerse yourself in Jean Cocteau's famous film Beauty and the Beast.
Using sets recreated by Chilean-American interior designer Juan Pablo Molyneux, immerse yourself in the mysterious, intimate atmosphere of the original film.
Dates
Opening periods
FROM 1 MAY 2026 TO 14 FEBRUARY 2027
(The Royal Saltworks will be closed on 25 and 26 July 2026) FROM 1 MAY 2026 TO 14 FEBRUARY 2027
Practical information
Group service
Art and shows
Leisure and sciences
Rates
| MINI | Max | Additional information | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group rate | 12 | From 20 adults | |
| Basic rate | 13 € | 15 € | Adult rate for over 25s |
| child's price | 9 € | 10 € | 6 to 15 years: Low and high season rates |
| Reduced rate | 12 € | 13 € | 16 to 25 years old, students, jobseekers: Low and high season rates |
Means of payment
Credit card
Holiday vouchers
Cash
Eurocard - Mastercard
Visa