A striking cave-like installation has opened on Paris’ oldest bridge, temporarily turning the historic structure over the River Seine into a dark, immersive art space filled with sound, scent and light.
For weeks, a black, mountain-like structure had covered the Pont Neuf, raising curiosity among passers-by. It finally opened on Monday evening, allowing the public to step inside the artwork.
Once inside, visitors are met with a dramatic shift in atmosphere. The air carries the smell of damp earth, stone and smoke, while the sounds of low electronic pulses echo through the structure. Beneath it, the bridge’s old cobblestones remain visible underfoot, reinforcing the sense of walking through another world.
The installation, called the Pont Neuf Cavern, has been created by French street artist JR (artist), often described as the “French Banksy.” It is open free of charge and will remain accessible 24 hours a day until June 28.
Built mainly from printed fabric and air, the work rises about 18 metres above the Seine, transforming the centuries-old bridge into a temporary artificial cave.
Visitors described the experience as disorienting yet captivating.
“It feels like the city has disappeared,” said one visitor, noting that although the river remains just outside, the interior feels like stepping into an ancient landscape.
A key feature of the installation is its carefully designed scent environment. Olfactory artist Sarah Bouasse created shifting smells inspired by compounds found in rain-soaked soil. The scent changes as visitors move through the space, from wet earth to warmer, smokier tones.
Many visitors said the experience changed the way they moved across the bridge.
“Today I felt the stones under my feet. And smelled them too,” said one retiree, adding that it made him feel like a child again.
The sound design was created by Thomas Bangalter, known from the electronic duo Daft Punk. His audio installation adds deep rumbles, echoes and rhythmic pulses that intensify the cave-like effect.
Completed in 1607, the Pont Neuf — ironically meaning “New Bridge” — is the oldest standing bridge in Paris. The installation encourages visitors to experience the landmark not just visually, but through smell, sound and touch.
The project also pays tribute to artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who famously wrapped the bridge in fabric in 1985, attracting millions of visitors.
Unlike that earlier bright installation, JR’s version explores darkness, guiding visitors through a shadowed passage before they re-emerge into daylight on the other side.
The experience can also be enhanced through a smartphone-based augmented reality feature developed with tech company Snap, which adds digital bats, visual traces and a virtual dancer to the space.
JR has linked the concept to Plato’s allegory of the cave, suggesting modern people are similarly influenced by digital screens and algorithms shaping perception.
Visitors said the installation offers a rare pause in daily urban life.
“Paris needs things that make people stop,” said one visitor.
When the exhibition ends, the structure will be dismantled and its materials reused or recycled, returning the bridge to its normal state as traffic flows again over the historic Seine crossing.