A Brief History of Parc de Bercy in Paris

What is the Parc de Bercy?

Parc de Bercy, or Park of Bercy in English, is a large public park in Paris that occupies the site of an old wine depot.

Parc de Bercy History

During the 19th century, this site was home to the largest bonded wine warehouses in the world. Accessible by both train and the adjacent river, Bercy became a renowned destination to go for wine and also fairground attractions, though presumably not both at the same time. Although in close proximity to Paris, Bercy was outside the city limits and so was exempt from taxes, making it an even more desirable place to produce wine.

By the mid-20th century, however, the area had waned in popularity. Come the 1960s, the majority of the wine storehouses had been closed down, before being eventually demolished in 1979. In the 1990s, the disused wine depot was transformed into a large public park.

Traces of the park’s former wine history can be found all over Parc de Bercy, from the old rail tracks to the cobbled streets and the hundreds of vine plants within the park. You’ll also notice 21 bronze sculptures created by French-Algerian artist Rachid Khimoune in 2001. These works, each representing a different country, are collectively entitled Enfants du Monde, or ‘Children of the World’, and symbolise the transition into a more global 21st century, as well as the shared importance of children’s rights the world over.

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