The new geography of “third places” in France: Explaining a deconcentration process outside metro areas

Abstract

The article examines the spatiotemporal diffusion of third places (TPs) in France. Based on the observation of the growing extension of the phenomenon, it relies on an unprecedented database to provide an analysis by urban strata and time intervals, with particular attention to the period 2020–2022, the years of COVID-19. In line with our hypotheses, the results show a classical hierarchical top-down diffusion process. After a metropolitan surge until 2017, third places tend to establish themselves more diffusely across the territory, with a turning point correlated to the emergence of the COVID-19 crisis. Across all periods, the probability of creating a third place in a large metropolitan area is only slightly higher than that observed in smaller municipalities.