Paris has unveiled a striking new temporary tourist attraction, transforming its oldest standing bridge, the Pont Neuf, into an immersive art installation dubbed the 'Pont Neuf Cavern'. The colossal structure, which has loomed over the River Seine for weeks, opened its doors to the public on Monday, offering a multi-sensory experience that combines visual art, scent, and sound.
The brainchild of French street artist JR, often referred to as the 'French Banksy', the installation reimagines the 17th-century bridge as an artificial cavern. Constructed primarily from printed fabric and air, it soars 18 metres (59 feet) above the river, providing a stark contrast to the bright Parisian riverfront. Visitors step from daylight into a dimly lit passage, where glowing photographs of caves line the walls and an electronic pulse resonates through the space.
A central element of the experience is the carefully crafted scent. Olfactory expert Sarah Bouasse has developed two shifting aromas, utilising compounds like geosmin and isoborneol, which evoke the distinct smell of earth after rain, damp ancient stone, and even a hint of smoke and animal warmth. This olfactory journey, coupled with a sound installation by Thomas Bangalter, formerly of the acclaimed electronic duo Daft Punk, fills the cavern with low rumbles, echoes, and pulses, enhancing the immersive atmosphere.
The installation, which is free to access around the clock until 28th June, also incorporates an augmented-reality experience developed with tech company Snap. By raising their phones, visitors can activate digital bats trailing light, observe ghostly traces left by passing bodies, and witness a dancer materialising in the space. JR has drawn parallels between his work and Plato's allegory of the cave, suggesting that modern 'cave walls' are screens and the algorithms shaping perception.
This ambitious project pays homage to Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who famously wrapped the Pont Neuf in pale golden fabric in 1985, attracting an estimated 3 million visitors. While their work illuminated the bridge, JR's installation plunges visitors into darkness, inviting them to experience the familiar crossing through their senses of smell, hearing, and touch. Upon its closure, the fabric used in the installation will be reused or recycled, allowing the Pont Neuf to re-emerge into the light once more.