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Château de Bercy today

France · Demolished

Château de Bercy

The Château de Bercy was a French château in the Bercy area (now Charenton-le-Pont / eastern Paris), begun in 1658 for the Malon de Bercy family and completed and refurnished in the early 18th century. It stood with extensive formal gardens by André Le Nôtre extending to the banks of the Seine. The château was sold and demolished in 1861; two hunting pavilions built 1713–1714 survive beside rue du Petit Château.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1714

Today

Demolished

As it stood in 1714

What Château de Bercy looked like in its prime.

A mid-17th/early-18th-century French classical château sitting beside the Seine, composed of a principal stone corps de logis with adjoining service buildings and symmetrical flanking pavilions; a formal Le Nôtre garden axis and parterres descended from the house to the riverbank. The roofline featured attic windows and chimneys above a continuous stone façade; two small hunting pavilions bookended the approach along the rue du Petit Château.

Its story

The story of Château de Bercy.

The Château de Bercy was begun in 1658 for the Malon de Bercy family in what is now Charenton-le-Pont, in eastern Paris, and was completed and refurnished in the early 18th century. Its extensive formal gardens, laid out by André Le Nôtre, extended to the banks of the Seine.

The château was sold and demolished in 1861. Two hunting pavilions built in 1713–1714 survive beside the rue du Petit Château.

Step inside

6 places to explore in 1714.

The record describes 6 distinct spots at Château de Bercy, including 2 interiors: principal reception room (state salon), console table in situ. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Seine bank, looking up the garden axisApproach to the main façadeRue du Petit Château with hunting pavilionsService buildings and courtyardPrincipal reception room (state salon)Console table in situ

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Whose castle

Clans who held Château de Bercy.

The families that held Château de Bercy for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Malon de Bercy

    The château was begun in 1658 for the Malon de Bercy family, who completed and refurnished it in the early 18th century.

From the archive

Château de Bercy on paper: the measured plan and period views.

The survey plan and photographs below are the ground truth this page's reconstructions are checked against, drawn and photographed while the castle was still a working garrison. Every image is public-domain or openly licensed, with its source named.

Panorama de Bercy, pris de St Gervais, Château de Bercy

Panorama de Bercy, pris de St Gervais

· Rijksmuseum (via Europeana)

Public domain

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Château de Bercy.

Grand Mosque of Paris, FranceMosqueGrand Mosque of Paris4 km awayPlace de la Bastille, FranceSquarePlace de la Bastille4 km awayPère Lachaise Cemetery, FranceCemeteryPère Lachaise Cemetery4 km away

Questions about Château de Bercy

What is the history of Château de Bercy?

Château de Bercy was built in stages from the 17th century and completed in the early 18th century. Construction began in 1658 for Charles-Henri I de Malon de Bercy, and work continued through the reign of Louis XIV. The château was later completed and refurnished by his descendants before being sold and demolished in 1861.

What is inside Château de Bercy / what can you see in it?

Château de Bercy contained a principal reception room, or state salon, and had decorated interiors with stucco, panelling and furnishings. A notable gilded-wood console table with a marble top came from the château and is now in the Louvre Museum. Interior elements were dispersed after the château was sold.

Why was Château de Bercy built, and what was it used for?

Château de Bercy was built as a château for the Malon de Bercy family. Its formal role was that of a family residence and estate, with extensive gardens, service buildings and a courtyard. The estate’s gardens extended to the banks of the Seine and were designed by André Le Nôtre.

Where is Château de Bercy?

Château de Bercy was located in what is now Charenton-le-Pont, in eastern Paris. It stood in the former Bercy area beside the Seine, with its gardens extending towards the river. The surviving hunting pavilions are beside the rue du Petit Château.

When was Château de Bercy built?

Château de Bercy was built from the 17th century into the early 18th century. Construction began in 1658, but the château was still unfinished when François Le Vau died in 1676. Later work, including completion and interior alterations, continued into the early 18th century.

Which family or clan held Château de Bercy?

The Malon de Bercy family held Château de Bercy. The château was begun in 1658 for the family, which completed and refurnished it in the early 18th century. Later ownership passed through descendants before the château was sold in 1861.

What did Château de Bercy look like in its prime?

Château de Bercy was a classical French château beside the Seine. Its principal stone corps de logis stood with adjoining service buildings and symmetrical flanking pavilions, beneath a roofline of attic windows and chimneys. A formal Le Nôtre garden axis and parterres descended from the house towards the riverbank.

Is Château de Bercy still standing / is it a ruin?

Château de Bercy is no longer standing. It was sold and demolished in 1861, and only two hunting pavilions built in 1713–1714 survive beside the rue du Petit Château. The former garden area is now occupied by transport infrastructure including the main east–west SNCF route, the Périphérique and the autoroute de l'Est.

Who built Château de Bercy?

Château de Bercy was commissioned for Charles-Henri I de Malon de Bercy and designed by the architect François Le Vau. After Le Vau’s death in 1676, Jacques de La Guépière completed and enlarged the château between 1702 and 1715. He also added the service buildings and stables.

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