The Pont Neuf as you know it is no more: JR is transforming it into a giant 120-meter cavern through June 28
In June 2026, French artist JR will transform Paris’s oldest bridge into an underground, organic structure open to everyone, day and night. La Caverne du Pont-Neuf promises to be one of the highlights of the Parisian cultural season, blending historical heritage, cutting-edge engineering, and monumental public art.
A direct tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude
More than forty years after Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the Pont Neuf in 1985, JR is reviving the tradition of large-scale public art. His installation draws direct inspiration from the Lutetian limestone quarries—the famous “Paris stone”—from which the bridge itself was built, having been completed in 1607. In this way, the artist traces the capital’s geological origins by juxtaposing the untamed with the city’s refinement.
The connection to Christo and Jeanne-Claude is also a personal one. Vladimir Yavachev, the couple’s nephew, is involved in the project. In 1985, the wrapping of the Pont Neuf attracted three million visitors; forty years later, this new work brings back memories of that project and its boldness.
JR is also part of an ongoing series of projects in Paris: a trompe-l’oeil at the Louvre in 2019 and an installation on the facade of the Opéra Garnier in 2023. From one project to the next, the artist creates “breaches” in the capital’s most familiar landmarks.
“By transforming it into a ‘Cave,’ JR goes back to the very origins of the city, drawing on the aesthetic of limestone—the stone quarried from local quarries that was used to build the famous bridge.”
Thorough preparation, in keeping with the tradition of major projects
To ensure the success of this complex installation, a full-scale testing phase was conducted in January 2026 in a historic hangar at Paris-Orly Airport. JR and his teams set up a 15-meter-tall prototype to fine-tune the structure, sound, and lighting. This approach is directly reminiscent of the working methods of Christo and Jeanne-Claude.
In addition, JR designed the official poster for Roland-Garros 2026, which was unveiled on March 19. This design combines the texture of clay courts with his famous photographic collage. Between the limestone of the old bridge and the ochre of the courts, the artist is leaving a double mark on the Parisian landscape this June 2026.
La Caverne du Pont-Neuf: an immersive experience to be enjoyed from both inside and outside
The installation consists of an inflatable structure covered with a textured fabric that mimics the steep walls of Paris’s old limestone quarries. From the outside, visitors on the riverbanks see an organic, rugged silhouette that contrasts with the bridge’s usual lines. From the inside, they enter an immersive tunnel where the play of light and the rugged walls create a sense of being in a completely different world.
In addition, the work features collaborations with renowned artists. Thomas Bangalter, formerly of Daft Punk—who was deeply influenced at the age of 10 by the 1985 Pont Neuf installation—composed a unique soundscape for the project. Snap Inc.’s AR Studio Paris also offers an experience titled “Echoes,” available for free on mobile devices and via Snap’s Spectacles augmented reality glasses.
In terms of eco-design, the project is entirely funded by private donations and the sale of JR’s artwork. The canvases are printed locally in France using solvent-free, water-based inks. A second life for the materials has already been planned for after June 28, 2026.
- Floor area: 2,400 m² on the capital’s oldest bridge
- Tunnel: 120 meters long and 20 meters wide
- Structure: 20,000 m³ of air keeps 18,900 m² of technical fabric in shape
- Height: rocky peaks soaring up to 18 meters
- Team: 800 dedicated people are working on the project
Practical information to prepare your visit
Admission to the Caverne du Pont-Neuf is free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The entrance is on Place du Pont-Neuf-Christo-et-Jeanne-Claude, and the exit is in front of La Samaritaine. Multilingual Bloomberg Connects ambassadors are on hand at all times both near and inside the artwork to guide visitors.
A free mobile guide is available on the app of the same name. In addition, a unique initiative welcomes visitors upon their arrival at Paris airports, in partnership with Paris Aéroport and Extime Travel. A 60-minute documentary directed by Vincent Lorca will air on France TV starting June 19, 2026, at 10:50 p.m.
As for public transportation, buses 27, 58, and 70 will be rerouted via Boulevard du Palais from May 11 to July 13, 2026. The Pont Neuf metro station (Line 7) will remain open, but Exits 2 and 3 will be closed during the event. During setup (May 11 through June 5) and takedown (through July 13), the bridge will be completely closed to all traffic.
Around the Artwork: Memories, Cuisine, and Perspectives
La Samaritaine is teaming up with JR from May 23 to June 28, 2026, to transform its famous “Boutique de Loulou” into a pop-up space. The space will feature limited-edition lithographs, official posters, coffee-table books, and a line of accessories designed in collaboration with Arteum and Au Vieux Campeur. Meanwhile, from June 18 to 28, 2026, Voyage Samaritaine will offer an exclusive menu: a “Clair-obscur” beef dish with mushrooms and the chocolate-caramel dessert “L’écrin de la caverne.”
In addition, several collectible items are available: the “Cave Passport,” a special stamp issued by La Poste, and an exclusive photo booth at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 1, Gate 20, accessible through June 29, 2026, Friday through Monday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
To fully appreciate the grandeur of the installation from the outside, the best vantage points are the lower and upper embankments of the Seine, the Pont des Arts, the terrace of the restaurant Le Tout-Paris, a cruise on the Seine, or the third and top floor of the Eiffel Tower.
In addition, June 2026 places JR at the center of a packed cultural calendar. An exhibition dedicated to the Galerie Perrotin Marais, located at 76 rue de Turenne in the 3rd arrondissement, will showcase preparatory materials for the project from June 5 to August 1, 2026. JR will also be featured in the “Beyond the Streets Paris” exhibition at the Grande Halle de la Villette starting May 26, 2026, alongside FUTURA2000, Lady Pink, Shepard Fairey, and KAWS. Nuit Blanche, the Fête de la Musique on June 21, and Fashion Week from June 23 to 28, 2026, will make Paris the global epicenter of creativity for the entire duration of this extraordinary installation.
