12th Arrondissement

Gare de Lyon is one of the railway terminus of Paris, France that is situated facing the Rue Van Gogh. It is also located within the 12th arrondissement of Paris.

Behind it is the smaller Bercy, a station for Paris Métro. It is situated along the Boulevard de Bercy.

Sights & Activities

The Gare de Lyon was built in the later years of the 18th century, in time for the World Exposition of 1900. Its most striking feature is the big clock tower located in the corner of the station.

Beside the Bercy Paris Métro station is the Palais omnisports de Paris-Bercy, an indoor sports arena located along Boulevard de Bercy. It features facilities for several sports, including basketball, gymnastics, show jumping, and more. The arena also serves as venue for concerts.

In front of the arena is the Parc de Bercy, a mid-size park located along the banks of the Seine river, parallel to the rail yards. It is a popular outdoor space in the area, with its semi-formal layout and numerous trees providing shade. Within the park is the Jardin Yitzhak Rabin, which features fountains and pieces of landscaped art.

However, the most extensive outdoor space in the area is the Bois de Vincennes, which used to be a hunting ground for past royalty. There are four lakes located within the park and a velodrome in its southwest corner. In the western edge of the park, adjacent to its biggest lake, is a zoo that was founded in 1934. The zoo is a well-known destination of families from all over the city who wish to view its Asian elephants and its herd of mouflons or wild sheep. The park’s most prominent landmark, however, is the Château de Vincennes, a royal castle located in its northern edge. The castle’s original structures date back to the 14th century and the rest were built in the 17th century. Visitors are welcome to explore this former royal residence though some parts may be closed off due to renovation and restoration. From Bois Vincennes to the Place de la Bastille is a long, albeit narrow, park called the Promenade Plantée. This unusual park actually developed out of a former railroad track and some of its parts are below street level. Vigorous individuals can actually use the park as walkway when hiking to and fro the Bois Vincennes.

Another prominent landmark in the 12th arrondissement is the unusual building of the Ministry of Finance, situated along the banks of the river. The northern part of the building actually straddles Rue Bercy.

Eating Out

If visitors get hungry while walking along the Promenade Plantée, they will have plenty of options on where to eat. There’s the Viaduc Café that serves both lights snacks and heavy meals and the Jodhpur Palace which offers Indian dishes. Near the Bercy station are the Pataques, which specializes on Mediterranean cuisine, and Lina’s Sandwich. After spending the day at Parc de Bercy, visitors can also head out to nearby restaurants, such as Zendo on Rue Gabriel Lamé, Vital Fruits along Rue Dijon, and Hexagone along Rue Bercy.