Created in the 1990s on the site of a former wine warehouse, Bercy Park extends along the Seine, in the 12th arrondissement of Paris near the big AccorHotels Arena concert venue. Covering 14 hectares, this contemporary park has kept some traces of its winegrowing past, as evidenced by the few vines that are still harvested today, and the rail sections which were once used by tankers.
Three parts make up Bercy Park: the Parterres, which include the kitchen garden, the wine store, the rose garden, the bulb garden, the maze and the scent garden, as well as the House of Gardening (Maison du Jardinage) offering introductory gardening courses; the Great Prairie with its huge shady lawns; and the Romantic Garden with its ponds dotted with water lilies, its charming lake and its small island. Tucked away in this haven of peace and greenery is the Lake House (Maison du Lac), a venue for exhibitions and conferences.
As you explore the site, you can also see the modern building designed by the American architect Frank Gehry, which houses the French Cinematheque (Cinémathèque française) and its Cinema Museum about the history of the silver screen.
After your walk, you can enjoy a drink or a spot of shopping in Bercy Village, on the picturesque Cour Saint-Émilion, where the biggest wine market in the world used to take place. Its old wine storehouses made of white stone, which are listed on the additional inventory of Historic Monuments, nowadays contain shops and restaurants and are full of charm!
