Highlights
- Historial de la Grande Guerre
- Péronne medieval town
- Somme river valley
Stage conditions
| Section | France |
|---|---|
| Water on route | Moderate |
| Shade | Minimal |
Practical notes
Getting there and away
Bapaume is reached by bus 407 from Arras station (Monday to Saturday) or on foot from Achiet halt. Péronne has had no passenger trains since 1970: the old Flamicourt station is a delicatessen. The town is served by the Trans'80 bus network, which the Somme's station article describes as connecting Péronne with the railway stations at Amiens, Albert, Cambrai and Saint-Quentin for TER Hauts-de-France trains. Timetables are on the Trans'80 site; expect limited weekend service. There is no station between the two towns.
What the season does
April to October in the stage data, and it flags flat, exposed terrain with limited shade, so this is another day for sun protection in high summer and wind protection otherwise. Péronne is a small town with a good spread of hotels and a campsite, so beds are rarely a problem outside August. From mid-September the fields are hunted, mainly at weekends, until the end of February. Spring mud on the farm tracks after rain is the other seasonal nuisance.
Safety on this stage
Flat and exposed, with limited shade: the hazards are weather and traffic rather than terrain. The route mixes farm tracks with straight D-roads where cars are fast; walk facing traffic and use verges. Thunderstorms in summer find you with nowhere to shelter. Péronne is a small fortified town with normal urban care around the ramparts and the river. Nothing technical anywhere on the stage.
Water and food
Water is moderate. Bapaume has bakeries and a supermarket for the morning; between the towns the villages are small, and the LightFoot guide lists only scattered chambres d'hôtes such as at Villers-au-Flos rather than shops. Péronne has bakeries, cafés and supermarkets, plus the Historial museum café. Carry a full day's water from Bapaume in summer.
Where pilgrims sleep
Péronne has a good spread. Our directory lists the Auberge des Remparts (hostel/inn), the Best Western Hôtel Saint-Claude, Campanile, La Picardière, the Noir Lion, the chambre d'hôtes La Porte de Bretagne and two campsites, Le Brochet and the Port de Plaisance. The FFVF's list of spiritual halts names the Paroisse Saint-Jean-Baptiste for pilgrims with a credential, at 16 rue Saint-Jean according to the LightFoot guide; ring the parish ahead rather than turning up.
Sources: Communauté de communes du Sud-Artois — Ligne 407 Bapaume–Arras timetable (PDF) · Wikipédia — Gare de Péronne-Flamicourt · La Via Francigena en France (FFVF) — Haltes Spiritualitas in Francigenam · LightFoot Guide to the Via Francigena, Canterbury to Besançon (PDF, 2014 edition) · Le Montagnard — Calendrier chasse France 2025-2026
Common questions
How long is the Bapaume to Péronne stage?
It is 25.0 km (15.5 mi) and takes about 6.5 hours of walking, from Bapaume to Péronne.
How hard is Bapaume to Péronne?
It is rated easy with 170 m of ascent and 200 m of descent over mixed terrain.
Is there water on the Bapaume to Péronne stage?
There is a moderate amount of water along this stage — carry enough between resupply points.
How do I get to Bapaume and away from Péronne?
Bapaume is reached by bus 407 from Arras station (Monday to Saturday) or on foot from Achiet halt. Péronne has had no passenger trains since 1970: the old Flamicourt station is a delicatessen. The town is served by the Trans'80 bus network, which the Somme's station article describes as connecting Péronne with the railway stations at Amiens, Albert, Cambrai and Saint-Quentin for TER Hauts-de-France trains.
Where do pilgrims sleep in Péronne?
Péronne has a good spread. Our directory lists the Auberge des Remparts (hostel/inn), the Best Western Hôtel Saint-Claude, Campanile, La Picardière, the Noir Lion, the chambre d'hôtes La Porte de Bretagne and two campsites, Le Brochet and the Port de Plaisance. The FFVF's list of spiritual halts names the Paroisse Saint-Jean-Baptiste for pilgrims with a credential, at 16 rue Saint-Jean according to the LightFoot guide; ring the parish ahead rather than turning up.
Walk this stage
Open the full stage list to plan the legs either side, browse heritage along the route, or get the free Via Francigena Walk app for offline maps and GPS on the trail.