Bercy Village at a glance
Located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, Bercy Village opened in 2002 as a successful urban renewal project. Take a look at the elegant white stone cottages. These are historic wine warehouses protected as national heritage sites. Along with the old rail tracks and cobblestone alleys, they are remnants of a time when Bercy was the city's primary hub for the wine trade before it became home to the Ministère des Finances (French Ministry of Finance). Warehouses built along the Seine served as storage and transit zones for alcohol arriving in the capital, allowing merchants to bypass a local tax known as the octroi. In the 19th century, people had to pay an entry fee to bring goods into cities. Material goods were also subject to this levy, which provided a way to track inventory and combat smuggling. Before the municipality of Bercy was absorbed into the capital, this wine district covered 104 acres at its peak.
Positioned right next to the Parc de Bercy and the Cinémathèque française (French Film Institute), Bercy Village houses 45 storefronts, primarily focusing on food and fashion retail. You will find familiar names like Fnac, Sephora, and Nicolas, as well as a large cinema, the UGC Ciné Cité Bercy, and a gym.
Its main thoroughfare, the cour Saint-Emilion, named after the famous wine region, is a pleasant place to walk. You can stroll through the area and enjoy a relaxed, family friendly atmosphere. The site remains popular with both tourists and locals who come here to unwind.
Bercy Village is a pleasant place for a stroll in Paris. Depending on the season, the decorations change and are always original. You can find everything here: restaurants, shops, and even a movie theater. I recommend walking around nearby, where some very pretty green spaces like the Parc de Bercy are great for relaxing.