promenade

A promenade is a public place designed for walking, or the act of walking for pleasure. In geography, a promenade is a widened walkway along a shore, river, or park that is oriented toward views, scenery, and social activity. The term derives from the French promenade, from promener, meaning to take a walk or stroll.

Common forms include waterfront promenades, esplanades, and boardwalks. Promenades provide space for leisurely strolls, sightseeing, and social interaction, and may run along coastlines, alongside rivers or through urban parks. They are often integrated with other urban or recreational facilities such as plazas, gardens, markets, and cultural venues.

Historically, promenades became prominent with urban expansion and the rise of leisure culture in Europe and North America during the 18th to 19th centuries. They were designed to offer safe, pleasant routes for promenading and worshiped as social spaces. Notable examples include the Promenade des Anglais in Nice, and various seaside and city promenades that shaped coastal and riverside development.

The term also appears in related contexts. In maritime usage, a promenade deck designates an area on a ship for walking and viewing the surroundings. In dance and music, promenade can refer to a walking position or a movement performed while partners walk together in a procession.