Bercy

Bercy Review

Tucked away south of the Gare de Lyon in the 12e arrondissement, these blocks of stone warehouses once stored wine imported from the provinces (you can still see the old train tracks on which they were brought in). Today, the buildings in what is now called Bercy Village have been transformed into shops and restaurants (most are open on Sunday). Adjacent to the village, the Parc de Bercy, with its lawns crisscrossed by gravel paths, is a favorite destination for residents: it includes the Jardin Yitzhak Rabin, a contemporary garden named for the late Nobel Peace Prize winner. On the western edge of the park, near the Bercy métro stop, is the Palais Omnisports, a venue for concerts as well as sports. Nearby, at 51 rue de Bercy, is a quirky Cubist Frank Gehry building now home to the Cinémathèque Française, a film-buff's paradise showing classic films, many in English. There are frequent homages to directors and actors, as well as a cinema library and museum.