le miroir magique|
On August 5, 2000, Kees Vanderheyden—then director of the Centre de Conservation de la Nature—published a column on Lake Hertel, weaving together the magical and mystical tales that have long surrounded its waters.
In that article, Mont Saint-Hilaire and its Lac Hertel are depicted as places where imagination takes flight. Locals and visitors alike have long projected myths and mysteries onto the landscape—such as rumors of a monster in the lake, echoing the legend of the Loch Ness. These stories are nourished by unusual events.
Though scientific investigations have revealed only natural elements like plants and old stumps, the absence of clear explanations seems only to deepen the enchantment. The lake, which is isolated and not connected to any rivers, paradoxically teems with fish—prompting imaginative theories about how they got there: ancient seas, birds scattering eggs from afar, and accidental introductions by fishermen.
Ultimately, the column suggests that Lac Hertel acts as a kind of natural mirror—reflecting not just the surrounding beauty but also the inner landscapes of human imagination. It’s a place where mystery persists, inviting each visitor to dream up their own version of reality, mythology, or memory.
Image: drawing for the exhibition we are all here now (2023)
Redpath Museum, Montreal - Photo: Alex Tran