Durbuy to Mantua Road Trip: Ultimate Guide

The Ardennes meet the Po Valley on this 800-kilometer route crossing Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. The average driving time is 9 hours without stops, but the landscape shifts from forested hills to industrial Rhine corridor, then Alpine passes and Lombard plains.

A unique detail: in Luxembourg, the A13 (Collectrice du Sud) briefly follows the old Roman road Via Agrippa, connecting Trier to Reims. This route offers a journey through varying geological eras from Devonian in Durbuy to Mesozoic limestones in the Jura.

The route traverses the Ardennes, the Moselle wine region, the Black Forest, the Jura, the Alps, and the Lombardy plain. Key geographical shifts include leaving the Ourthe River valley (Durbuy) for the Luxembourg sandstone plateau, then descending into the Moselle valley with terraced vineyards.

• Ardennes: rolling hills, dense forests, and the Semois river near Florenville.
• Lorraine plateau: open farmland and the Saar valley after Luxembourg.
• Upper Rhine Plain: flat, industrial, but with the Vosges backdrop.
• Jura: limestone ridges and the Rhine Falls near Schaffhausen.
• Alpine crossing: the Gotthard motorway (A2) offers dramatic tunnels and viaducts.
• Po Valley: flat agricultural land with poplar-lined canals.

Local commerce thrives along the way. In Luxembourg, buy Kachkéis (cooked cheese) at village markets. In the Black Forest, seek out Kirschwasser and smoked ham. Italian stops near Mantua offer Parmigiano-Reggiano and Lambrusco wine.

For truly unique finds, detour 5 minutes off the A5 at Riegel (Germany) for the Kaiserstuhl wine region, where full-bodied Spätburgunder is sold at roadside stands.

Tolls dominate the Swiss and Italian sections. Motorway vignettes are mandatory in Switzerland (CHF 40 for 1 year) and Austria (€9.90 for 10 days). Italy uses a pay-per-use system; a trip from Chiasso to Mantua costs about €12.

Fuel costs vary drastically. Germany has the cheapest petrol (€1.75/L), while Switzerland and Italy are pricier (€1.90–2.00/L). A diesel car averaging 6 L/100 km spends around €100 total. Refuel at Aral (Germany) or Eni (Italy) stations, which are frequent on highways.

• Germany: A5 between Karlsruhe and Freiburg has many inexpensive stations.
• Switzerland: Avoid rest stops; fill up before entering in Weil am Rhein.
• Italy: Autostrada stations often have higher prices; budget an extra €15.

Road quality is excellent on motorways. Warning: the A2 in Switzerland has many tunnels with sudden speed changes. Night illumination is good on main highways but poor on secondary roads in Luxembourg and Ardennes. Keep headlights on even during rain.

For families, the technically Europe Park in Rust (Germany) is a major detour, but closer to the route is the Swiss Science Center Technorama in Winterthur. In Mantua, the Palazzo Te offers family-friendly interactive exhibits.

Pets: Most motorway rest areas in Germany allow dogs on leash. Recommended pet-friendly stops: Raststätte Michelau (A5) has a large fenced grassy area. In Italy, Autogrill Lodi (A1) has a designated pet area.

Fatigue management: Use the “Raststätten” on the A5. Top picks: Raststätte Freiburg (southbound, with panoramic views), and Raststätte Gotthard Sud (Switzerland) for a walk on the historic road. For a nap, park at service areas with 24-hour security; avoid unlit car parks.