Esplanade of Europe, square in Montpellier, France

The Esplanade of Europe is a large public square in Montpellier that serves as a central gathering space with open areas and wide walkways. The square provides direct access to shops, restaurants, and many of the city's main attractions.

The Esplanade de l'Europe belongs to the Antigone district, a riverside extension of Montpellier designed by the Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill from the late 1970s onward. Its neoclassical forms, columns and wide pedestrian axis were built on the banks of the Lez as the city expanded eastward toward the new Hôtel de Région.

The esplanade links the Antigone district with the city centre along the Lez, and its broad paved surface is level and step-free, so it can be crossed on foot or by wheelchair. Look for the line of trees and the water nearby for orientation; the open layout makes it easy to keep the river on one side while heading toward the Corum or the historic centre.