Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle, Public square in Rennes, France

Esplanade Charles-de-Gaulle is a large public square in Rennes, France. It is mostly paved and serves as a pedestrian link between the city center and the train station, surrounded by cultural venues and shops.

The site was a meadow before becoming a military field in 1802, and it was renamed after Charles de Gaulle in 1970. In 2004, a pedestrian square replaced a large parking lot, which was moved underground.

The square often hosts events like the Transmusicales festival and sports screenings, and its circular zones are used for gatherings. Words by the Oulipo group are set into the ground on stainless steel nails, and passersby can piece together a story as they walk.

The square is easy to reach on foot from the train station and the old town, and it connects to several bus and metro lines. It is flat and fully pedestrian, so it is accessible for wheelchairs and strollers, but there is little shade on sunny days.

The square is the largest in Rennes, and its size allows it to be completely cleared for circuses and fairs. The underground parking has 800 spaces, and the square's design includes five circular zones with special lighting.