Paris’s Oldest Bridge Will Soon Be Transformed By A Monumental Free Installation, Canada Reviews

January 2025 marked the start of an exciting project for French photographer and street artist JR. In an old Orly airport hangar, he and his crew unveiled a 15-metre prototype to test how well it technically and artistically functioned. 

Of what, you ask? Well, with the 100-day countdown officially on and Paris preparing to temporarily wave goodbye to its iconic Pont-Neuf, we can take a closer look. 

On June 6, 2026, the city’s oldest bridge will no longer be a mere crossing: instead, it’ll be transformed into La Caverne du Pont Neuf (‘The Cave’), the first installation of its kind in the planet on this scale, and a nod to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who famously wrapped the bridge in 40,000 square metres of golden fabric back in 1985. 

While JR isn’t wrapping it, he is ‘hollowing’ it out, and for three weeks, the monument will become an impressive feat of inflatable architecture and a Snap-powered AR experience with audio crafted by French musician and producer Thomas Bangalter. 

Oh, and we placed it top of our list of the best new things to do in the world in 2026. So, when should you visit, and how does an ‘air mountain’ actually stay inflated? Paris is here to tell you – read on for everything you need to know about The Pont Neuf 

What exactly is ‘La Caverne du Pont Neuf’?

Built in 1607, the Pont-Neuf is Paris’s oldest bridge and the first to be built in Lutetian limestone (now better known as ‘Paris stone’). It was the first to offer proper pavements, and by referencing the ancient quarries where the stones were first dug, JR is connecting the raw earth to the urban landmark we know today. 

‘My vision for this project is inspired by both the past and present of this iconic bridge… Art is transformation,’ he said. 

For JR, this isn’t a random one-off: it’s actually the finale of a cycle started in 2020 exploring human isolation. He’s been literally ‘cracking’ facades in Florence, Rome, and Milan since 2021, and in 2023, he took over the Opéra Garnier with a project inspired by Plato’s Cave. Now, this bridge installation is the conclusion. 

What’s the connection to Christo and Jeanne-Claude?

The duo’s legacy looms large: in 1985, The Pont Neuf Wrapped used 13km of rope and 12 tonnes of chains to create the spectacle, but while their installation saw the bridge draped and covered, JR, who ‘admire[s] their heritage and share their belief that art should make us question the familiar,’ is opening it up to let us inside.

Forty years later and with the stamp of approval from Vladimir Yavachev (Christo’s nephew), JR’s take follows in the duo’s footsteps – the same bridge, the same ephemeral spirit, and – crucially – the fact it’s completely free of charge. 

La Caverne du Pont Neuf will run from June 6 to 28, 2026, open for exploring 24/7. You can walk through it, or view it from the banks, neighbouring bridges, or even a Bateau-Mouche on the Seine, with no booking required. 

It’s so large that you’ll be able to see it from the top of the Eiffel Tower, and there’ll also be a dedicated ‘viewing route’ across Paris. Flying in? Keep your eyes peeled: Orly airport is hosting satellite fragments of the work so you’ll have a flavour as soon as you land. 

What can we expect to see and hear?

JR describes the interior of the installation as a ‘symbolic crossing into the unknown.’ He’s teamed up with Snapchat’s AR Studio Paris to create digital layers that mess with your perception of space, and the visuals are inspired by 19th-century chronophotography pioneer Étienne-Jules Marey. Using your phone (or glasses), you won’t just look at the art – you’ll interact with it.

It’s big – we’re talking 120 metres long, 20 metres wide, and 18 metres high. It covers 2,400sqm but is held up almost entirely by air, and uses 18,900sqm of canvas and 20,000 cubic metres of air. Think of it as a giant, ultra-stable bouncy castle. 

The ‘skin’ looks like solid rock, but the whole structure only weighs 5 tonnes, and to stop it flying away, they use 130 tonnes of weights. The inflatable design is a direct tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s early ‘pneumatic’ works from the 60s.

How has former Daft Punk member Thomas Bangalter got involved?

Bangalter has been soundtracking JR’s projects since 2023, and for La Caverne, he’s sculpted a ‘sonic veil’ using electro-acoustic elements to give the structure a mystical, monolithic feel.

‘I was ten when Christo wrapped the bridge; it’s one of my most vivid artistic memories,’ he said. 

How many people have helped build the installation?

Nearly 800 people, including engineers and technicians. On-site, Bloomberg Connects ambassadors will be there 24/7 to help guide visitors and explain the project.

Is it eco-friendly?

Surprisingly, yes. Because it’s inflatable, it packs down into just a few lorries: the canvas is handmade in France with minimal waste, and the inks are water-based (which means no toxic fumes). The weights are recycled, and the lights are plugged into the grid – so no noisy generators.

When the curtain falls, La Caverne will be dismantled but not binned. JR is looking at repurposing the materials for future exhibitions or recycling the fabric into the textile industry. A final plan will be announced before launch.

What else has JR been working on?

JR is also taking over Perrotin gallery in the Marais from June 5 to August 1. He’ll be showing new 3D photographic works from his Dé-compositions series. Oh, and there’s a digital guide on the Bloomberg Connects app featuring behind-the-scenes archives from two decades of work.

A blockbuster addition to Paris’s legendary art scene for 2026, eh?

🌃 Check out our roundup of the best things to do in Paris right now.

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