PARIS: Tourists and Parisians goggled at the sight of the French capital’s oldest bridge transformed into a giant “cave” on Thursday, a spectacular new public work by the street artist JR.

JR, dubbed the “French Banksy” after the British street artist, has wrapped the Pont Neuf in fabric painted white, grey and black to create the impression of a rocky grotto.

The creation, 120 metres (390 feet) long, 20 metres wide and varying in height from 12 to 18 metres, drew curious onlookers to the banks of the Seine on a sunny spring morning. “It really stands out,” 37-year-old Parisian Stephanie Da Cruz said.

“You imagine mountains, the Alps or something like that, and contrasts so strongly with the architecture of Paris, that it’s just very surprising.” JR, who began his career as a street Paris graffiti tagger and has become one of the best known figures on the French art scene, created the work as a tribute to the duo Christo and Jeanne-Claude.

They wrapped the Pont Neuf in fabric in 1985, drawing millions of visitors, as well as the Arc de Triomphe in 2021. “It’s incredible,” passer-by Caroline Masson said.

“People used to tell me about Christo’s project on Pont Neuf, so I never imagined I’d see as an adult the wrapping of the Pont Neuf by JR... it’s spectacular!”

From June 6 to 28, visitors will be able to explore inside the new work, with electro artist Thomas Bangalter — one half of legendary French dance act Daft Punk — providing the soundtrack.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2026