GVilles-RAFHAEL was born of a lobbying association in favour of the TGV (High-speed train) in Northern France, created in 1987 by  Pierre MAUROY, the Mayor of Lille. 

Named "TGV Gare de Lille" it united institutions, companies, consular chambers and even individuals! In 1993, it achieved its objectives thanks to the TGV's routing to the heart of Lille rather than out in the open countryside, and is a rail route that also serves various cities in France's Nord-Pas de Calais region. 

It was in 1995, on the basis of historical dynamics, that TGVilles-RAFHAEL became a network of cities associating all the cities of the Nord-Pas de Calais region wishing to work together on the impact of this TGV route. 

he "Battle of the Railway" at the end of the 80s proved rich in experience for an entire region and even beyond, since the Belgians - whether Flemish or Walloons - now found themselves in a single structure that defended common interest in a major domain: that of accessibility.

In December 1997, France officially recognised the Association's activities by naming it a "Network of Towns" during an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Land Development and Territory. 

This new title rapidly permitted the network to join the National Club, which now includes approximately twenty networks of towns throughout France.. 

RAFHAEL is an Association under French law and governed by the law of July 1901.