The Court Chapel in the Würzburg Residence is not just a chapel—it’s a Baroque dream come to life. Built in the 18th century, this space was designed to impress, from its lavish gold leaf details to its stunning frescoes by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo. Everything about it screams grandeur. But if you step inside and look a little closer, you’ll notice something really intriguing. Despite having windows on only one side of the room, the lighting feels balanced and even. How did they pull that off? The answer lies in some smart design tricks involving mirrors.

Here’s where the challenge came in: the windows in the Court Chapel are only on one side, facing the Residenz Garden. While this setup gives a picturesque view, it also creates a problem. With light streaming in from just one direction, the chapel could have easily ended up looking lopsided—bright on one side, dim on the other. And that’s not exactly ideal for a space that’s supposed to feel grand and symmetrical. Typically, architects would have added windows on both sides to let light flood in evenly, but in this case, the layout didn't allow for it.

Enter the brilliant use of mirrors—literally built into fake windows. Instead of altering the design with more real windows, the architects installed mirrors into window-shaped frames on the opposite wall. These mirrors bounce the natural light from the real windows, making it seem as though there are additional windows where none actually exist. The effect is striking: the mirrors catch and reflect the sunlight so perfectly that the whole space feels evenly lit, creating a beautiful glow that spreads across the chapel.

What’s even more impressive is how these fake window mirrors work throughout the day. Whether it’s a bright sunny morning or the soft light of the afternoon, the mirrors ensure the chapel is always bathed in a balanced, warm glow. It’s like a Baroque-era lighting hack, using reflections instead of electricity to create the perfect ambiance. The mirrors don’t make the space feel bigger, but they do give it a sense of balance that’s both calming and awe-inspiring.