Until September 21, Bercy Village is hosting “Les Chais de Bercy,” an open-air exhibition dedicated to the history of the largest wine and spirits market of its time. Located beneath the covered passageways, this free exhibition features 30 photographs from the archives of the Agence Roger-Viollet—one of the richest in Europe. It offers a vivid glimpse into the intense activity that once animated the neighborhood’s former warehouses, while showcasing a unique Parisian heritage, at the intersection of industrial heritage and popular culture.
Before becoming a place for strolling and leisure, Bercy was a veritable wine empire. At its peak in 1860, the Cour Saint-Emilion housed “the largest wine and spirits market in the world,” spanning 45 hectares and supporting more than 6,500 people. The French government even recognized the site’s importance by declaring the cellars of public utility in 1880.
Every day, tons of barrels arrived by the Seine, were unloaded by hand, stored in vast buildings, and then redistributed throughout Paris. The district’s bustling activity relied on precise logistics: unloading, storage, delivery, and negotiation. A true city within a city, punctuated by wine, its trades, its exchanges, and its traditions.
Les Chais de Bercy
Until September 21, 2025
Bercy Village
28 Rue François Truffaut
75012 Paris, France
www.bercyvillage.com
