Promenade vs. marche
The French language distinguishes nuances of meaning between 'promenade' and 'marche' when referring to the act of walking. This subtlety is reflective of context, intention, and cultural connotations.
Promenade
A leisurely walk, often for pleasure, in a designated area such as a park or by the seaside.
Nous faisons une promenade dans le parc chaque dimanche.
(We take a stroll in the park every Sunday.)
La promenade en bord de mer est reposante.
(The seaside walk is relaxing.)
Après le dîner, ils ont fait une courte promenade dans les jardins.
(After dinner, they took a short stroll in the gardens.)
Marche
Walking as physical exercise or means of transportation; it can also refer to marching or functioning (in the case of mechanisms).
Je fais une marche rapide tous les matins pour rester en forme.
(I go for a brisk walk every morning to stay in shape.)
La marche jusqu'à la gare m'a pris 30 minutes.
(The walk to the train station took me 30 minutes.)
La montre ne fonctionne pas bien; il y a un problème avec la marche.
(The watch isn't working properly; there's a problem with the mechanism.)
Summary
'Promenade' typically refers to a leisurely, pleasurable walk, often in scenic or designated areas, while 'marche' has a broader range of meanings including walking as exercise or transportation, as well as the concept of functioning or operating in terms of mechanisms.