Promenade du bout du monde, Esplanade on the Maine riverbank in Angers, France

Promenade du Bout du Monde is a paved esplanade on the left bank of the Maine in Angers, laid out below the castle ramparts. From its edge, the moat and the seventeen towers of the Château d'Angers rise across the water, and the walkway itself is bordered by lawns and rows of benches facing the river.

This esplanade was once filled with cars until it was transformed into a pedestrian-only space. The renovation brought attention back to the medieval heritage of Angers and improved how people experienced the connection between the city and river.

The name "Bout du Monde" (end of the world) comes from the spot's position at the tip of the Île Saint-Aubin side of the Maine, where the river's two arms meet below the castle. Angers residents come here to walk and watch the Maine flow past the château's slate towers.

The esplanade is easy to walk through with plenty of space to move around and sit down. The flat terrain and available benches make it comfortable for visitors of all mobility levels.

The esplanade occupies the site of the former Port de la Rochefoucauld, a river port on the Maine. Its name, "end of the world", comes from the quay that once marked the limit of the navigable reach below the castle. Look for the stone edging along the water, a remnant of the old quay.