Parc des Bastions occupies the space between the old town fortifications and the university, a pleasant green strip running along the south side of the Vieille Ville. The park's two main draws are the Reformation Wall — the hundred-metre bas-relief depicting the leaders of the Protestant Reformation — and the oversized outdoor chess boards, where games are played on warm days with wooden pieces the height of a three-year-old child.
The park also connects Place Neuve (with its Grand Théâtre and Conservatoire) to the university district and the museum cluster on rue Charles-Galland. It is free, open all hours, and a useful route for walking between the old town and the modern city centre. The Brasserie des Bastions at the northern end is a reliable spot for a beer or coffee with outdoor seating when the weather permits.