In the 19th century, the razing of city fortifications and the relocation of port facilities made it possible in many cities to create promenade paths on the former fortresses and ramparts. The parts of the former fortifications, such as hills, viewpoints, ditches, waterways and lakes have now been included in these promenades, making them popular excursion destinations as well as the location of cultural institutions. The rapid development of artificial street lighting in the 19th century also enabled safe use in the evening. One example of this is Vienna's
Ringstrasse. Esplanades became popular in
Victorian times, when it was fashionable to visit
seaside resorts. A promenade, often abbreviated to '(the) prom', was an area where people – couples and families especially – would go to walk for a while in order to 'be seen' and be considered part of '
society'. Beach promenades such as the
Promenade de la Croisette in
Cannes, the famous
Promenade des Anglais on the Mediterranean coast in
Nice or the Lungomare of
Barcola in
Trieste still play a central role in city life and in the real estate market. In the United States,
esplanade has another meaning, being also a
median (strip of raised land) or
berm dividing a roadway or boulevard. Sometimes they are just strips of grass, or some may have gardens and trees. Some roadway esplanades may be used as parks with a walking/jogging trail and benches.
Esplanade and
promenade are sometimes used interchangeably. The derivation of "promenade" indicates a place specifically intended for walking, though many modern promenades and esplanades also allow bicycles and other nonmotorized transport. Some esplanades also include large
boulevards or
avenues where cars are permitted. A similar term with the same meaning in the eastern coastal region of Spain is
alameda Alameda de Hercules, Seville, o
rambla, such as
La Rambla in Barcelona, but more widely used terms in the rest of the
Hispanic world are '
("esplanade"), ' ("promenade") or '''' ("esplanade"). == Examples ==