Information
Landmark: La Promenade Orange (Place de la Paix)City: Bouake
Country: Cote d-Ivoire
Continent: Africa
La Promenade Orange (Place de la Paix), Bouake, Cote d-Ivoire, Africa
Overview
In Bouaké’s La Promenade Orange-once called Place de la Paix-the Peace Monument stands at the heart of the city, a quiet space where white stone catches the afternoon sun and where peace, unity, and the push for national reconciliation in Côte d’Ivoire are honored.In 2016, the area got a major makeover and a new name-La Promenade Orange-marking a fresh start for the city and the nation after long, tense years of civil unrest.The Peace Monument rises in the heart of Bouaké, a city shaped by unrest during the Ivorian Civil War from 2002 to 2007 and the post‑election crisis of 2010–2011, where the air once carried the crackle of gunfire.City officials renamed the square to mark the shift from division to unity, turning it into a lively hub where neighbors gather, voices mingle, and peace feels within reach.La Promenade Orange sits in the Air France 2 district, easy to reach for both locals and visitors, and offers room for everything from weekend markets to small public gatherings.The landmark is part of a push to reshape Bouaké’s public spaces into welcoming, peaceful areas for everyone, a priority that’s taken on new urgency since the tense, post-conflict years.Around the monument, you’ll find paths to stroll, open spaces for games, and quiet spots where you can rest in the shade.These spots are great for families, with swings and slides for the kids and sports areas like basketball hoops and football fields.Cultural Hub: The space hosts everything from lively music nights to art exhibits, drawing neighbors together and making it the heart of the community.In the commercial spaces, small food stands and market stalls serve local treats and handmade goods, filling the air with the scent of fresh bread and chatter.In 2016, workers renovated the square, replacing cracked stone with fresh paving, and gave it a new name-La Promenade Orange.The change was one piece of a larger national push to foster peace and help people reintegrate, often by creating public spaces-quiet parks, open plazas, places where neighbors could meet.With its fresh name and sleek design, the space signals a turn toward modernity, hope, and reconciliation, inviting people to pause under the shade or gather for play.Public Safety: The streets stay clean and orderly, with steady patrols that keep the area safe for residents and visitors alike.Security guards often walk the area, their radios crackling, which helps keep it welcoming for families.The Promenade welcomes visitors every day from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., giving you plenty of time to wander its paths and feel the breeze off the water.You can get there quickly by taxi or bus, and its spot in the heart of the city makes it a landmark everyone knows.Several hotels and cozy little restaurants sit just steps from the Promenade, offering comfortable rooms and steaming plates of local favorites.Cultural Centers: Around the Promenade, you’ll find Ivorian culture everywhere-step into a museum filled with vibrant textiles or wander through an art gallery just down the street.La Promenade Orange, crowned by its gleaming Peace Monument, stands as a bright marker of Côte d'Ivoire’s path toward peace and the slow mending of its national spirit.It’s more than a monument-it’s a lively place where neighbors gather, ideas mingle, and music drifts through the air.In helping Bouaké rebuild and change, it shows the grit of the Ivorian people-like a market reopening at dawn, full of voices and bright cloth.
