The Parc de Bercy (English: Park of Bercy) is a public park located along the
Rive Droite
The Rive Droite (, ''Right Bank'') is most commonly associated with the river Seine in central Paris. Here, the river flows roughly westwards, cutting the city into two parts. When facing downstream, the northern bank is to the right, and the so ...
in the
12th arrondissement of
Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. Si ...
. Development started in 1994 on the site of a former wine depot, before an official opening three years later by Mayor
Jean Tiberi
Jean Tiberi (born January 30, 1935) is a French politician who was mayor of Paris from May 22, 1995 to March 24, 2001. , he was mayor of the 5th arrondissement of Paris and deputy to the French National Assembly from the second district of Pari ...
. Sponsored by President
François Mitterrand
François Marie Adrien Maurice Mitterrand (26 October 19168 January 1996) was President of France, serving under that position from 1981 to 1995, the longest time in office in the history of France. As First Secretary of the Socialist Party, he ...
, the project covered 14 hectares (34.6 acres).
Composed of three different gardens on different themes connected by foot bridges, the Parc de Bercy is Paris's tenth largest park. It is accessible by
Bercy
Bercy () is a neighbourhood in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, the city's 47th administrative neighbourhood.
History
Some of the oldest vestiges of human occupation in Paris were found on the territory of Bercy, dating from the late Neolithic ...
and
Cour Saint-Émilion Métro stations, as well as by a foot bridge to the Mitterrand site of the
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (, 'National Library of France'; BnF) is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites known respectively as ''Richelieu'' and ''François-Mitterrand''. It is the national repository ...
(BnF) on the other side of the
Seine
)
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, tributaries_left = Yonne, Loing, Eure, Risle
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. The
AccorHotels Arena
Accor Arena (originally known as Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, and previously as AccorHotels Arena; also known as Bercy in competitions where commercial names are prohibited, such as in the Olympic Games) is an indoor sports arena and concert ...
, colloquially known as Bercy in Paris, is located on the park's northern edge.
Components
Gardens
The park consists of three gardens designed by architects Bernard Huet, Marylène Ferrand, Jean-Pierre Feugas and Bernard Le Roy, assisted by landscapers Ian Le Caisne and Philippe Raguin between 1993 and 1997:
*The "Romantic Garden", which includes fishponds and dunes;
*The "Flowerbeds", dedicated to plant life;
*"The Meadows", an area of open lawns shaded by tall trees.
In the northeast of the park stands the
Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française (), founded in 1936, is a French non-profit film organization that holds one of the largest archives of film documents and film-related objects in the world. Based in Paris's 12th arrondissement, the archive offers ...
(the former American Center) designed by
Frank Gehry
Frank Owen Gehry, , FAIA (; ; born ) is a Canadian-born American architect and designer. A number of his buildings, including his private residence in Santa Monica, California, have become world-renowned attractions.
His works are considered ...
; on the raised terraces are the 21 sculptures of
Rachid Khimoune's "Children of the World" installation, created in 2001 to honour children's rights.
The park is linked directly to the François Mitterrand site of the
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The Bibliothèque nationale de France (, 'National Library of France'; BnF) is the national library of France, located in Paris on two main sites known respectively as ''Richelieu'' and ''François-Mitterrand''. It is the national repository ...
by the
Simone de Beauvoir footbridge over the Seine. The area used to be an important location for Paris wine warehouses; some remains of the industry can still be seen in the park. The
Musée des Arts Forains is also located here.
Skatepark
Bercy Skatepark is the second biggest in Paris covering an area of 800 square metres. It is covered and it has several ramps. Graffiti is written in spray paint on the walls and the ramps. Children, families, rollerbladers, skateboarders and BMXers visit the park.
Tree covered walkway in Jardin Yitzhak Rabin.jpg
Relaxing at Jardin Yitzhak Rabin.jpg
Fontaine du parc de Bercy.jpg
La Demeure X EUtouring.jpg
Parc de Bercy @ Paris (27156061424).jpg
Parc de Bercy @ Paris (27694171711).jpg
Paris Parc Bercy voie pavée 2014.jpg
See also
*
Bercy
Bercy () is a neighbourhood in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, the city's 47th administrative neighbourhood.
History
Some of the oldest vestiges of human occupation in Paris were found on the territory of Bercy, dating from the late Neolithic ...
*
Ministry of the Economy and Finance (France)
The Ministry of Economics, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (french: Ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique, pronounced ), informally referred to as Bercy, is one of the most impor ...
References
{{Visitor attractions in Paris
Bercy, Parc de
12th arrondissement of Paris