On Thursday, 14 November 2019 the European Association of the Via Francigena Ways (EAVF) in partnership with the municipality of Peronne (Somme department) organized a meeting with the mayors and representatives of the local communities from the area between Bapaume (Calais) and Saint-Quentin (Aisne ) in Hauts-De-France, France. The meeting took place in Peronne.

Thérèse Dheygers, the Mayor of Peronne, welcomed the participants at the Hall of Honor of the Town Hall.  Martine Gautheron, vice-president of EAVF,  led the event, accompanied by Luca Bruschi, EAVF director; Sami Tawfik, project manager; Elena Dubinina, expert on cultural routes, and Leslie Maussang, technical manager of the Via Francigena development in France.

The meeting was focused on the presentation of the Via Francigena and the EAVF work with particular reference to the route, ongoing projects and forthcoming release of the official guide from Canterbury to the Great Saint Bernard Pass by Favre publishing house.

Mayors, councilors, tourism office managers actively participated in this event. EAVF best practices and local initiatives along the route have been highlighted, such as recent experience of Vraignes-en-Vermandois where the inhabitants, seeing many pilgrims passing, turned to the municipality to express their willingness to welcome the pilgrims in their homes.

The EAVF France, with its operational headquarters in Champlitte, plans to organize upcoming information meetings along the 1,000 km of French sector of the route to enhance local participation.