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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativity of Bercy, located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, replaces a first church built in 1677 under the name of Notre-Dame de Bon Secours by the fathers of the Christian Doctrine. It became a parish church in 1790 after the creation of the municipality of Bercy, and was destroyed in 1821 because of its state of ruin and rebuilt by architect André Chatillon from 1823. Consecrated in 1826, she took her present name.

In 1871, during the bloody Week of the Paris Commune, the church was burned down and destroyed, as was the neighbouring town hall. She is the only Parisian church to suffer this fate. Reconstructed in the same way by architect Antoine-Julien Hénard, she then suffered several disasters: flood during the Seine flood in 1910, bombardment in 1944 during the Second World War, and a fire in 1982 which damaged part of her furniture. These events marked its history, while leading to successive restorations.

The architecture of the church is inspired by ancient Roman basilicas, with a main nave and two side naves. Its sober style is distinguished by a classic porch with columns and a bedside decorated with Byzantine motifs. Inside, it houses a rich collection of 17th and 18th century religious paintings, including works by Jacques Stella, Jean-Baptiste-Marie Pierre, and Charles de La Fosse. A statue of Saint Emilion de Combes, patron saint of wine traders, recalls the winemaking history of the Bercy district.

The church has been listed as historical monuments since 1982. Its romantic organ, built around 1880 by the Stolz brothers, is a rare testimony of unrestored instrument until 2022. Today, the parish is animated by the Emmanuel Community, and the building remains an active place of worship, accessible by Dugommier and Bercy metro stations.

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