On Monday 15 June 2026, Paris’ newest tourist attraction has opened to the public. Curious-minded people who wan to visit the Pont Neuf Cavern, as the installation by French street artist JR is called, can do so until 28 June.
The Pont Neuf might well be one of Paris’ most famous monuments, although thanks to its central location, many tourists cross without even noticing. Despite its name, which means as much as ‘New Bridge’, it is actually the oldest bridge in Paris, dating back to the start of the 17th century.
In order to celebrate the bridge and its powerful heritage, earlier in 2026, it became clear that a large-scale art installation by street artist JR, often referred to as the French Banksy, was in the making. The project, called La Caverne du Pont Neuf or the Pont Neuf Cavern, was meant to be an homage to the work of Christo and Jeanne-Claude. In 1985, the artistic duo used some 13 kilometres of rope and 12 tonnes of chains to wrap the bridge in a golden-like texture.
The installation was meant to open on 6 June and those who happened to pass by the Pont Neuf over the last few weeks undoubtedly noticed the preparation works. Measuring some 120 by 20 by 18 meters, using 8,900 square meters worth of printed polyester fabric, and consisting of 10 interconnected modules, it is no surprise that the piece of art wasn’t installed in a day.
However, on 3 June, disaster struck and part of the structure was damaged due to strong winds. Reparations had to be carried out and the Pont Neuf Cavern was finally able to open its doors to the public on Monday 15 June 2026 at 6:00 pm.
A visit of the Pont Neuf Cavern already starts on the outside. While JR designed the piece of art in Paris, the fabric used for the installation was made at Air Toiles Concept in Brittany. The French company based in Plougoumelen specialises in textile and inflatable structures and JR’s design even led them to buy new large-format printers and open a second workshop. After the Cavern closes, the fabric will be reused and/or recycled.
However, the real interest of the Cavern lies inside. Contrary to Christo and Jeanne-Claude in 1985, JR chose to immerse the Pont Neuf and its visitors in darkness. The fabric was designed and printed in such a way as to create the illusion of a stone, textured cave and that feeling is being underlined by an olfactory experience, created by expert Sarah Bouasse. By using geosmin and isoborneol, she created a smell reminiscent of dampness and of dry earth being hit by rain.
“You enter into the darkness and emerge into the light on the other side,” JR said about the Pont Neuf Cavern.
The sound installation put together by Thomas Bangalter, known as one half of the electronic duo Daft Punk, uses all kinds of rumbles and echoes to elevate the illusion. Tourists and locals who want to make the most of their visit can use the augmented-reality experience developed by tech company Snap. Meanwhile, the traditional Pont Neuf cobbles underneath their feet create the perfect cavern-like flooring.
The free immersive experience Pont Neuf Cavern will be open 24/7 until 28 June 2026, with a maximum of 700 visitors allowed inside at once.
