Navette des CrĂȘtes – I tested the Route des CrĂȘtes without a car!
What if we went for a walk in the Vosges Massif without a car? That's what the Navette des CrĂȘtes is all about, and it's back every summer to delight Alsatians and tourists alike! The Navette des CrĂȘtes is the ideal way to discover the Vosges peaks without having to worry about traffic or parking. It makes it easy to get from place to place and to take advantage of the many hiking, mountain biking and cycling trails that criss-cross the mountains...Or just the Farm Inns! I tried it out for a day and can already tell you that I was very taken with it: I'll definitely be using it again and again!
How the Navette des CrĂȘtes works
Dates 2023
The Navette des CrĂȘtes runs from July 1 to August 31, 2023 every day + weekends in September up to and including October 1.
Shuttle routes and times
There are a total of 9 lines on the Navette des CrĂȘtes:
- 8 bus routes departing from Colmar, Munster, Mulhouse, Thann, Remiremont, Epinal and Saint-Dié stations to take you up to the peaks.
- 1 bus line running between Col du Calvaire (Lac Blanc) and Grand Ballon (Soultz Haut-Rhin)
The shuttles all leave from the stations, which is perfect for combining train and shuttle and making the whole journey by public transport. Click here for all line timetables.
The Navette des CrĂȘtes timetable allows you to go in the morning (earlier or later) and come back in the middle or late afternoon. There’s something for everyone, whether you’re going for a long hike or a shorter one. The Route des CrĂȘtes line is very regular throughout the day, so you can discover several different places on the same day if you like. Really nice!
Ticket purchase
You can book your ticket online or buy it directly on board the coach.
Rate
The ticket is valid for 4 hours, including connections. The rates are as follows:
- Single ticket: âŹ4
- Reduced-rate single ticket: âŹ2 on presentation of Fluo card
- Free if you take the train on the same day. Simply present your train ticket with the day’s date.
- Group/family day pass (2-5 people): âŹ10
- Free for children under 4
Bikes and dogs
Bicycles are allowed within the limits of available spaces (about 8 spaces per bus): reservations must be made before 4pm the day before your journey on lines 1, 3, 4, 5 and 9. Contact LK Kunegel on 03 89 24 65 69. Please note: electric bikes are not accepted.
Dogs are allowed on board provided they are muzzled, subject to the number of passengers and the driver’s approval. Small animals must be able to be taken on their owner’s lap. Guide dogs can travel without conditions.
A day on foot or by bike in the Massif des Vosges
Leaving Strasbourg, I was keen to go for a bike ride around Lac Blanc. Accompanied by my bike, I took the TER from Strasbourg to Colmar, then the CrĂȘtes shuttle from Colmar station to Lac Blanc. A total journey time of 1h30 (30min TER, 1h coach), more or less the same as by car, but much more comfortable! I found the system for attaching bikes to the back of the bus to be well-designed, and my bike was secure and stable.
I had spotted a cycling circuit called the Circuit des 6 Cols. So I set off from Lac Blanc, where the Navette dropped me off, and off I went for a lovely drive along the roads of the Vosges mountains! This 40km tour with 1,000m elevation gain takes in the Cols de Bermont, des Bagenelles, du prĂ© de raves, du Bonhomme, de Louchpach and du Calvaire. A magnificent tour that allows you to cycle part of the Route des CrĂȘtes, and enjoy the beauty of the panoramic views. It’s a sight to behold! I was a little afraid of the traffic, but on this stretch and going there in the morning, it wasn’t a problem at all. It has to be said that I don’t think this is the busiest part.
After the effort, the comfort… The program included a picnic on the banks of Lac Blanc, followed by the inevitable blueberry tart (brimbelles for our Vosges friends) eaten in a small restaurant. For a lighter version, don’t hesitate to go and have a meal at a farm inn, which is also a typical experience đ
All that remained was to stroll around before taking the Navette back to Colmar and then taking the train back to Strasbourg after this wonderful day out in the Vosges Massif!
I liked
- Car-free access to the Route des CrĂȘtes
- A practical, comfortable and environmentally-friendly solution
- Frequent crossings on the line that runs along the ridge
- Being able to take your bike with you
- Super attractive price
I liked a little less
- Indication of stops (for the return trip, we don’t know exactly where to take the shuttle)
Photos of my Navette des CrĂȘtes ride
