contested terrain

Hi,

The author is talking about many riots that are happening in the streets, some more commonly in some specific areas. Can anyone tell me what exactly "contested terrain" mean?

"Even the Emperor saw the symbolic value of passing along the contested terrain between the Opéra and the Port-Saint-Denis, though he was greeted with glacial silence as he passed". - Paris, Capital of Modernity

Is it the same as "disputed"?

Thanks!

contested is the past participle of the verb to contest, used as an adjective : to struggle or fight for, as in battle, etc
terrain : a piece of land

contested terrain : a piece of land which is fought over (in this case metaphorically, by the different classes occupying either side).