Esplanade Annette Kellerman, Footpath and esplanade in Clermont-Ferrand, France
The Esplanade Annette Kellerman is a wide open footpath in Clermont-Ferrand, linking the Pierre-de-Coubertin aquatic stadium to the entrance of the Comédie. The paved walkway runs outdoors and is lined with trees on both sides, with benches placed along the route.
The path was named after Annette Kellerman, an Australian swimmer and actress from the early 20th century who fought for women's right to choose their own swimwear. Clermont-Ferrand gave her name to this passage as part of a broader effort to honor women in its public spaces.
The esplanade is part of the Espace Gisèle Halimi, a set of public spaces in Clermont-Ferrand dedicated to women who shaped history. Signs along the path share their stories in short texts that anyone can read while walking.
The path sits close to the center of Clermont-Ferrand and is easy to reach on foot from the surrounding streets. The surface is flat and paved, making it accessible for people with reduced mobility.
Annette Kellerman was arrested in Boston in 1907 for swimming in the ocean wearing a one-piece swimsuit she had designed herself. That suit, seen as scandalous at the time, is now considered a forerunner of the modern women's swimsuit.
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