The Alsace Wine Route without a car, aboard the Kut’zig
The Alsace Wine Route
without a car aboard the Kut’zig
Car-free getaways are among my favorites. Whether by train, bus, or even car—as long as I’m a passenger—I love having my eyes free—or my eye to the viewfinder—to watch the landscape roll by: the vineyards stretching out, the rooftops tiered one above the other, the church steeples appearing and then disappearing as the road winds around a hillside.
That’s exactly what the Kut’zig offers —that cute red open-top bus you may have already spotted around Colmar, which connects several gems of the Alsatian wine region.
Kut’zig: What is it?
The Kut’zig is an open-top bus that operates a loop route through the heart of the Alsace Wine Route: Colmar, Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg Vignoble, Turckheim, and Eguisheim.
The concept is simple: you buy a day pass, then hop on and off at the various stops as many times as you like. There’s no need to follow a set route or worry about getting back behind the wheel.
It’s especially convenient for exploring the area around Colmar, but also for taking the time to visit the villages, pop into a wine cellar, or linger over a wine tasting.
For this first trip, I’ve chosen three stops that, when combined, make for a lovely half-day—or a full day if you take the time to visit the wine cellars and museums: Colmar, the starting and ending point, Turckheim, and Eguisheim.
Three very different atmospheres, all accessible without ever having to get behind the wheel again.
Colmar
The starting point and capital of the Alsace wine region
This is where it all begins. Colmar is one of the main starting points for the Kut’zig, with two stops in the city center: the train station and the Tourist Office on Place Unterlinden.
Before—or after—hopping on the bus, take a few hours to wander around the capital of the Alsatian wine region. Little Venice and its canals, the Tanners’ Quarter, the Pfister House, the Saint-Martin Collegiate Church… Colmar boasts a remarkable concentration of historic sites within its particularly compact historic center.
For a photographer, it’s a true playground: the colorful facades reflected in the waters of the Lauch, the half-timbered houses of “Little Venice,” the stalls in the covered market, the cobblestone alleys… Much of the historic center can easily be explored on foot in half a day, but Colmar is well worth spending more time in if time permits.
But today, there’s no time for sightseeing: the Kut’zig is waiting for me.
Turckheim
Between the ramparts and the Dragon Trail
After passing through Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, and Kaysersberg, I head down to Turckheim.
I walk through the Porte de France, the main entrance to this small fortified town, which seems to have weathered the centuries relatively unscathed. Next, I head to the Tourist Office, located behind the Fountain of the Virgin.
I’m told that Turckheim has retained much of its medieval charm, particularly with its three historic gates and the remains of its old city walls. I’m given the necessary brochures. Now I’m all set to explore the town and its surroundings.
Once you’ve explored the village, head up to the hills along the Dragon Trail. This 3.5-kilometer interpretive trail first runs along the ramparts before winding through the vineyards.
The trail is dotted with informational signs and “viewing spots” offering beautiful views of the old town, the Alsace Plain, and the foothills of the Vosges. Allow about two hours to enjoy it at a leisurely pace. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and follow the QR codes scattered along the trail to learn more about the landscapes and local regions you’ll pass through.
Accessible to everyone, the trail is a lovely way to learn how the vineyards have shaped Turckheim and its landscape.
If you stay in Turckheim until evening—from May through October—you can even watch the Night Watchman’s procession, a tradition kept alive by the town. The procession begins right behind the Tourist Office.
As for me, I have to head out already—Kut’zig won’t wait!
Eguisheim
The village you can never take enough pictures of
If you could only make one stop on the Alsace Wine Route, many people would tell you to choose Eguisheim. And I can see why.
Built in concentric circles around its castle, with its flower-lined streets and brightly colored half-timbered houses, Eguisheim offers a different scene around every corner. The village was voted “France’s Favorite Village” in 2013, and once you’re there, it doesn’t take long to see why.
Take the time to wander along the small concentric streets that wind around the castle and the Saint-Léon fountain, rather than rushing straight through. It’s often by taking these detours that you’ll find the most interesting scenes: a few flowers on a windowsill, a ray of sunlight glinting off a building’s facade, a stork perched on a roof…
For photographers, Eguisheim is an almost endless playground. The morning, however, remains the best time to enjoy the village in a more peaceful atmosphere and avoid some of the summer crowds.
Finally, Eguisheim is also home to many winemakers, each one more talented than the next: don’t hesitate to stop by their cellars to taste the fruits of their labor (plus, they’re really friendly!). In the summer, it’s a chance to cool off a bit, and in the winter, it’s a chance to warm up while you visit the Christmas market.
But what does “Kut’zig” mean?
It’s a real nod to local culture. In the Alsatian dialect, “kützig” roughly means “to have tousled hair,” or to have one’s hair all over the place. The shuttle’s creators adopted this word to name their open-top bus: a playful way of setting the tone, since traveling with the wind in your hair through the vineyards inevitably ends up ruffling your hair a bit.
Even the Kut’zig logo plays on this idea, with its final “g” extending like a strand of tousled hair.
That last stretch of the ride in the fresh air cleared my head. And I find myself thinking that the bus really lives up to its name. One last glimpse, one last look at the vineyards rolling by, and here I am back in Colmar, the final stop.
Without having to look for a parking spot or get behind the wheel after a wine tasting, the bus drops me off right in front of the train station, where my train is waiting.
And in the end, maybe that’s what I love most about the Kut’zig: taking the time to look around at my own pace.
Vincent Schneider
As an Alsatian with a passion for photography, I love showcasing my region and all it has to offer through my lens. Mountain landscapes, vineyards, activities… In these articles, I’ll share my favorite finds, my top recommendations, and my favorite photo spots with you.
