Alsace travel from Baden‑Württemberg: quick trips and new Crit'Air sticker rules

Alsace, a French region bordering Baden‑Württemberg, can be reached in under two hours by car or train from cities such as Stuttgart, Karlsruhe, Freiburg and Pforzheim. Popular destinations include Strasbourg – home to the European Parliament, the Council of Europe and the European Court of Human Rights – and Colmar, famed for its "Little Venice" canals and historic half‑timber houses.

Visitors driving into Alsace must comply with French low‑emission zones. The German green dust‑plaque is not recognised; motorists need the French Crit'Air air‑quality certificate. The Crit'Air vignette is mandatory in Strasbourg and other designated zones, with bans for vehicles classified as Crit'Air 4 and 5, and an upcoming restriction for Crit'Air 3 from January 2027.