Located in Paris’s 12ᵗʰ arrondissement, Parc de Bercy spans 14 hectares on the historic site of what was once among the world’s largest wine trade hubs, active until the 1950s. Designed between 1993 and 1997 by visionary architects and landscapers, the park is divided into three themed zones : the Great Meadows, the Parterres, and the Romantic Garden.

Great Meadows: open lawns shaded by tall trees—ideal for relaxing, picnicking, or playing frisbee—with a scenic pavilion reached via cascading steps.

Parterres: including a vegetable garden, orangery, rose garden, maze, and a small urban vineyard with 400 Chardonnay and Sauvignon vines producing roughly 250 L of wine annually. The Gardening House offers workshops and horticultural classes for all.

Romantic Garden: features a pond with fish and water lilies, reconstructed dunes, a meadow, an 18ᵗʰ c. folly’s ruins, pedestrian bridges, and contemporary sculptures such as Étienne Martin’s “Demeure X”.

Historical traces abound: original wine distribution rails embedded in pathways, refurbished wine warehouses, Saint‑Germain market arcades, and former customs and tax collector buildings. Additionally, the site hosts the Musée des Arts Forains and is fringed by Frank Gehry’s Cinémathèque Française, plus the Simone‑de‑Beauvoir footbridge linking the park to the BnF.

The atmosphere shifts across the day: serene mornings for reading or reflection, jovial lunchtime picnics, active afternoons at the covered 800 m² skatepark, and romantic evenings by the Seine’s golden glow. Visitors range from families and sports enthusiasts to students, senior citizens, and tourists seeking an authentic urban oasis.

Fun Fact: Archaeologists discovered 6,000-year-old Neolithic dugout canoes in 1991 near the Seine trenches. The park also features an urban vineyard planted in 1996, whose harvest has become a local tradition.

Visitor Info: open 24/7, with free restrooms and Wi‑Fi, playgrounds, ping‑pong tables, drinking fountains, and defibrillator access. Dogs allowed on leash. Easily reached via Métro at Bercy (6/14) or Cour Saint‑Émilion (14), by bus, or on foot via the Simone‑de‑Beauvoir bridge to the BnF. Entrance is free—all year round.