From Paris’s Historic Pont Neuf Bridge, a Dramatic Cave Rises

The name Pont Neuf translates to “new bridge” but it’s a bit of a misnomer, seeing as it’s the oldest crossing in the city, dating back to 1578, and constructed under King Henry IV’s rule. (It was named such because back then it was new, and the name … well, it just stuck.) It is one of the city’s great architectural feats and among its most recognizable landmarks, yet earlier this month, the enchanting walkway was transformed into something entirely different: a cavernous grotto, made from air-filled fabric, beckoning tourists and locals alike.

Reimagined by the mysterious artist known simply as JR, and titled La Caverne du Pont Neuf, the bridge now looks like a child’s bouncy house turned mountaintop. Sitting atop its 12 historic arches is what amounts to a giant blow-up tunnel, printed with a rocky terrain throughout. Inside, eerie sounds and dramatic lighting add to the effect of its craggy walls. Visitors must enter from the Left Bank and travel through its dramatic interior before being spit out on the Right Bank, near the Louvre.

Photographed by Acielle / StyleDuMonde

As Men’s Fashion Week descends on the city for the installation’s final days (it closes June 28th), and a heatwave engulfs the city, there were still crowds—if small ones—making their way to marvel at the transformed icon. “To be honest, we didn’t know this was happening,” said Janet Ratzulon, visiting from West Texas with her husband and daughter. While they had their hopes on seeing the bridge in its original form, they took it in stride, spending a little time in the sculpture’s shady interior before heading to their next destination (Printemps).

Marie André, meanwhile, had come in from the outskirts of Paris with her two friends specifically to see the sculpture. They had seen news of it—including the installation’s postponement after it was damaged by wind earlier this month—and were curious. “It’s interesting, what he’s doing,” André mused of the artist, wondering aloud if it was a commentary on climate change. For what it’s worth, the artist told the New York Times he hopes participants feel like they are in a cocoon or their “mother’s belly.”

Photographed by Acielle / StyleDuMonde