Paris’s ironically-named iconic Pont Neuf has taken on a surprising new appearance this week, but it’s only temporary.
The bridge, the oldest in Paris despite its name meaning ‘New Bridge’ has been turned into a fantasy of stone caves, 120 meters long, 20 meters wide and varying in height from 12 to 18 meters. The project is the work of street artist JR, who has been called a ‘French Banksy.’
Despite the Banksy connection in the press, JR intended to evoke memories of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, who wrapped the bridge in 1985 and the Arc de Triomphe in 2021. JR said he wanted to “juxtapose the rough and the wild with the refined elegance of Paris, creating a dialogue between the past and the present.
Starting June 6 and continuing for three weeks, visitors will be able to explore the interior of the project.
