Is Kaysersberg worth the trip, and how do you get there from Colmar or Strasbourg?

Updated on October 7, 2026

In brief

Kaysersberg is about 20 minutes by road from Colmar and about 1 hour (79 km) from Strasbourg.
Fluo bus line 813 runs from Colmar station to Kaysersberg in about 40 minutes, Monday to Saturday only.
Kaysersberg Castle was built from 1227 for Emperor Frederick II, and its ruin above the town is free to visit.
The 2026 Kaysersberg Christmas market opens Friday to Sunday only, November 27 to December 20, 10:00 to 20:00.
Albert Schweitzer, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was born in Kaysersberg in 1875; his birthplace is now the Centre Schweitzer.

Why is Kaysersberg worth your time?

Kaysersberg is a small wine town on the Alsace Wine Route, about 20 minutes northwest of Colmar, where the Weiss river leaves the Vosges mountains. It packs a castle ruin, a fortified bridge, a Renaissance church altarpiece and the birthplace of Albert Schweitzer into an old town you can walk in two to three hours. It was voted France's favorite village (Village Préféré des Français) in 2017.

Kaysersberg also sits at the foot of the Schlossberg, the first vineyard classified Alsace Grand Cru, in 1975. Since 2016, the town has formed the commune of Kaysersberg Vignoble with its neighbors Kientzheim and Sigolsheim. See also things to do in Colmar.

What should you see in Kaysersberg, in one sentence each?

Kaysersberg's main sights sit within a few minutes' walk of each other along the main street, rue du Général de Gaulle, between the river and the castle hill. Each sentence below stands on its own, so you can pick what fits your time. Wear shoes with grip on the cobbles.

Kaysersberg Castle (Château de Kaysersberg) is a ruin on the hill above the town, built from 1227 for Emperor Frederick II, with a round keep you can climb for a view over the roofs and vineyards, free of charge.
The fortified bridge (Pont fortifié) is a 16th-century stone bridge over the Weiss river with a crenellated parapet and a tiny guardhouse, the classic photo spot in Kaysersberg.
The Holy Cross Church (Église Sainte-Croix) holds a carved, painted and gilded altarpiece of the Passion of Christ made in 1518 by the Colmar sculptor Hans Bongart.
The Constantine fountain in front of the Holy Cross Church carries a sandstone statue of Emperor Constantine dated 1521, also attributed to Hans Bongart.
The Centre Schweitzer, in the house where Albert Schweitzer was born in 1875, presents the life and peace message of the doctor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate.
The old town along rue du Général de Gaulle and the riverbank is lined with half-timbered houses, wine shops and bakeries, best walked early, before the crowds.
Domaine Weinbach, about 5 minutes by road from the old town at the foot of the Schlossberg, is the Kaysersberg estate where FJ13 takes clients for tastings, by appointment only, Monday to Saturday.

Kaysersberg pairs well with Riquewihr, about 15 minutes away by road, and with Eguisheim on a longer day.

How do you get to Kaysersberg from Colmar or Strasbourg?

Kaysersberg has no train station, so travelers without a car take the TER train to Colmar and then a bus. Fluo bus line 813 leaves Colmar station for Kaysersberg in about 40 minutes, Monday to Saturday only. By car or with a private driver, Kaysersberg is about 20 minutes from Colmar and about 1 hour from Strasbourg.

From April to mid-October, the Kutzig tourist shuttle also links Colmar with Kaysersberg and the other wine villages on set days. From November 27 to December 20, 2026, the Christmas shuttles (Navettes de Noël) lines 1 and 2 run from Colmar station through Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauvillé, Friday to Sunday only.

Ways to reach Kaysersberg
Option	Travel time	Cost	Best for	Limits
TER train to Colmar, then Fluo bus 813	About 30 min by train, then about 40 min by bus	Train: check SNCF Connect; bus: 4 euros a ride	Budget travelers, Monday to Saturday	No Sunday bus, few departures, one village per trip
Christmas shuttle from Colmar	Loop through three villages	17 euros a day per person, under 12 free	December weekend visitors without a car	Friday to Sunday only, November 27 to December 20, 2026
Rental car	About 20 min from Colmar, about 1 hour from Strasbourg	Daily rental, fuel and parking	Independent travelers adding several villages	Busy car parks on weekends, no wine for the driver
Shared group tour	Fixed half or full day	Per person	Solo travelers	Fixed stops and times, large groups
Private driver (FJ13)	Door to door from your hotel	Per van, 1 to 7 passengers	Families, groups, tastings, several villages	Costs more than the bus for 1 or 2 people

FJ13 is not the best option for one person staying in Colmar who only wants Kaysersberg on a weekday: bus 813 does the job for a few euros. A driver makes more sense on Sundays, for a tasting, or for Kaysersberg plus two other villages in one day. See Strasbourg to Colmar for the train.

If you drive, use the car parks around the edge of the old town, such as Porte Basse, Schweitzer and Place Gouraud, and walk in. On Christmas market weekends, Kaysersberg usually opens park-and-ride car parks along the road to Lapoutroie, with free shuttle buses to the town center.

When is the best time to visit Kaysersberg?

Weekday mornings from spring to early autumn are the best time to visit Kaysersberg: the streets are quiet before day-trip coaches arrive, and the castle path is dry. The grape harvest usually runs through September into October, when the vineyards around Kaysersberg turn gold and the wine estates are at their busiest.

In 2026 the harvest opened on August 18, the earliest date on record in Alsace. The Kaysersberg Christmas market opens only Friday to Sunday, on four Advent weekends from November 27 to December 20, 2026, 10:00 to 20:00. Saturdays are the most crowded; Friday daytime is calmer.

Visiting Kaysersberg with FJ13 private driver

FJ13 drives you to Kaysersberg in a private van from your hotel in Strasbourg or Colmar, for 1 to 7 passengers, with the price per van. Your driver drops you at the edge of the old town, so you skip the parking search, and waits while you take self-guided time in Kaysersberg and the next villages. Tolls and parking are included.

On the Alsace wine route private day tour, Kaysersberg comes after Riquewihr, with a tasting at Domaine Weinbach in the afternoon. FJ13 suggests lunch at La Winstub du Chambard on the main street of Kaysersberg, at your own pace and cost. In December, the Alsace Christmas markets private tour stops in Kaysersberg for lunch and the market, and the Alsace Grand Cru wine tour pairs Kaysersberg with more Grand Cru hillsides.

Your driver knows the region and shares local tips along the way. For commentary on the history of the town, add a certified guide-conferencier (optional, extra cost) on a full day (details). Get a price for your own route in the quote configurator.

Frequently asked questions

Can you climb the tower at Kaysersberg Castle?

Yes. The round keep of Kaysersberg Castle is open to climb, and the ruin is free to visit. Reach it by stairs from the old town or by a path through the vineyards. The climb is short but steep, so skip it on icy days.

How many hours do you need in Kaysersberg?

Two to three hours covers the old town, the fortified bridge, the Holy Cross Church and the castle climb. Add about an hour for the Centre Schweitzer, and more for lunch or a tasting at Domaine Weinbach.

Is the Albert Schweitzer birthplace in Kaysersberg open on Tuesdays?

No. The Centre Schweitzer opens Wednesday to Monday, 10:30 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:30, and closes on Tuesdays, all of January, May 1 and December 25 and 26.

Where should you have lunch in Kaysersberg?

FJ13 suggests La Winstub du Chambard, a traditional Alsace winstub on rue du Général de Gaulle, in the heart of Kaysersberg. Book a table ahead, especially on weekends and in December.

How do you get from Colmar to Kaysersberg without a car on a weekday?

Take Fluo bus line 813 from Colmar station: about 40 minutes, 4 euros a ride, Monday to Saturday. Check return times on fluo.eu first: departures are few.

Is Kaysersberg worth visiting during the grape harvest?

Yes. Pickers fill the slopes around Kaysersberg, and the vineyard colors peak in October. Estates are busy, so book any tasting ahead; Domaine Weinbach receives visitors by appointment only.

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