Rue d'Alsace, Pedestrian street in central Angers, France

Rue d'Alsace links Boulevard du Maréchal-Foch to Place du Ralliement. The street is fully pedestrian, with two metal rails set into the light-coloured paving along its centre for the tram. On the left side, a pale stone building carries a projecting canopy over shopfronts marked "GALERIES LAFAYETTE" in gold, with two tall red vertical banners above.

After the city fortifications were torn down in 1845, this street was built to connect Boulevard du Maréchal-Foch with Place du Ralliement. It became a commercial hub over time and was completely reshaped when the tram arrived in 2011.

The street was first called rue Impériale, then renamed rue d'Alsace after the Treaty of Frankfurt of 1871 separated Alsace from France. At the lower end, the Angevin architect Hervé Moirin built the large buildings from 1875; the Galeries Lafayette shopfronts and their red banners stand along this stretch today.

The street is flat and easy to walk, with wide sidewalks and occasional seating areas to rest. The tram line in the center is well marked and keeps pedestrians separated from the tracks, though you do need to watch when crossing.

The tram runs directly down the middle of the pedestrian walkway rather than on a separate track, which is unusual for French shopping streets. This arrangement required careful planning to keep both tram riders and walkers safe and comfortable sharing the same space.