Parc de Bercy

Parc de Bercy - Autumn 2007

Parc de Bercy is a public park located along the right bank of the Seine in the 12th arrondissement of Paris. It was created in 1994-1997 as one of the major architectural projects of French President Francois Mitterrand on the site of a former wine depot. With a combined area of 13.9 hectares, composed of three different gardens on different themes connected by foot bridges, it is the tenth largest park in the city. It is accessible by Bercy and Cour Saint-Émilion Métro stations, and by a foot bridge to the National Library of France on the other side of the river.

The three gardens

The 12th arrondissement, with the park by the river Seine

The park is made up of three gardens designed by architects Bernard Huet, Madeleine Ferrand, Jean-Pierre Feugas, Bernard Leroy, and 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 north-east of the park stands the Cinémathèque Française (the former American Center) designed by Frank Gehry, and 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 National Library of France by the Simone de Beauvoir footbridge over the Seine.

The area used to be an important location for Paris wine warehouses, and some remains of the industry can still be seen in the park.

The Musée des Arts Forains is also located here.

See also

• Bercy