La Montagne de Frise combines views across the Somme valley floor with the landscape of its marshes. The 10-hectare Larris site is one of the last large Larris areas in the Haute Somme. Its location and proximity to the marshes shape its diverse flora and fauna. La Montagne is open to the public.

La Montagne, marshes and birdwatching

The Étang de Frise wetland itself is not open to the public, but it is clearly visible from the La Montagne de Frise trail. Along the loop around the Marais de Frise, you may spot great crested grebes, ducks and ducklings, as well as motionless herons; in cold weather, kingfishers also find their way there. These sightings are seasonal and not guaranteed.

Hiking: short loops and a longer trail

The La Montagne de Frise loop starts at the Parking du Belvédère de Frise car park. It is 2.3 km long, takes about 50 minutes and is rated moderate. The route connects Frise with Eclusier-Vaux, passes through the Larris of Frise, and runs between the canal and the Somme along a path on the opposite bank that is open to pedestrians. Check the route details locally before setting out.

Another loop, about 2.5 km long, runs between two locks and along the canal banks. It can be accessed at the upper lock in the village centre or at the lower lock car park. The two walks differ in more than just length: La Montagne takes about 50 minutes and is rated moderate; the canal loop has two access points. You can choose according to the landscape you want to see and the access option that suits you.

For a longer hike, Frise has the 13 km Marais de Frise walking trail (PR8). The “Sur les pas de Blaise Cendrars” walking trail is also signposted in Frise. Check the latest route details before setting out.

Cycling along the Somme

The Véloroute Vallée de Somme (V30) between Péronne and Froissy passes through Frise. In the village, it follows a small local road along the Somme and climbs to the viewpoints. Unlike the La Montagne loop, which also follows a path on the opposite bank that is open to pedestrians, the V30 therefore follows a road section through Frise.

Fishing plots are rented out on Île de Frise.

Traces of the village’s history

Shell craters and traces of trenches from the First World War remain on the plateau of La Montagne de Frise. The village church of Frise, dedicated to Saint Peter, was destroyed during the 1914–1918 war. Rue Blaise Cendrars recalls that the writer fought here with the Foreign Legion during the First World War. The history of the war is evident in different ways: in the surviving traces on the plateau, in the church’s history and in a street name.

Discover more destinations: Argoules, Bailleul, Carnoy, Villers-Bretonneux, Cahon Gouy, Plachy-Buyon, Sentelie, Domvast

For the broader travel overview: Somme.