Great Continental Railway Journeys (2016) Episodes: - Zermatt to Geneva - Transylvania to the Black Sea - The Flying Scotsman - Rotterdam to Utrecht - Riga to Tampere - Sofia to Istanbul - Athens to Thessaloniki tracks: - Vrai, More Hope, Efficient, Having Doubts (Album Modern string ensemble) - Neutrality (Album Cycle of Life) He finds that the first constitution of the Netherlands was signed here and hears what the locals think about Dutch tolerance today. Overview: Michael Portillo travels on the great train routes of Europe, as he retraces the journeys featured in George Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide. In one of the areas elegant cafes, Michael learns about dada and the avant garde during the Crazy Years after the First World War. His 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guidebook under his arm, Michael Portillo continues his journey through the borderland where Europe meets Asia and fulfils a personal lifelong ambition to visit the Black Sea port of Odessa. In high spirits, with the help of the local liquor, Michael says 'Nosdraviya' to Slovenia and heads south. Michael takes a spin around the track at Le Mans in a French-built car, which won two endurance races during the 1920s. Michael Portillo sports a modern edition of his Bradshaws Continental Handbook, dated 1936. I was drawn to it because when Jonathan Harker first encounters the vampire he is reading "of all things an English Bradshaw's guide" (studying the timetable between Whitby and King's Cross, the line that will carry Draculas coffins of earth!). Arriving in Italy at the empire's southern port of Trieste, Michael savours the imported coffee which fuelled the cafe culture of its elegant capital, Vienna. A humbling master class in carving cuckoo clocks shows him how the nation's reputation for quality and reliability in manufacturing was established from the early 18th century. Cycling in tandem with his guide, Michael discovers Lyon's role in the country's most famous sporting event, the Tour de France. 8.6 (19) Rate. Rotterdam to Utrecht Michael ends his journey in futuristic style with a high-speed boat trip across Lake Garda. Michael is in his element, stoking the boiler on the footplate of the enormous locomotive. Michael Portillo sports a strikingly modern edition of his Bradshaws Continental Handbook, dated 1936. Heading to Bilbao, he explores the industrial ties between France and Spain and learns to cook a traditional Basque dish. Michael then boards the train that runs from the Caspian Sea to Moscow, where he performs an important role in a dramatic opera at the Bolshoi Theatre, before exploring the beauty and history of St Petersburg and riding on the first railway ever built in Russia. He learns from the buffet car cooks how to prepare a supper of meat-filled dumplings - Dagestani specialities called pylmeni. Outside the city he crosses swords with Cossack warriors and gains an insight into Ukrainians' national identity. Credits includes the hugely successful series Sanditon, Bloodlands and The Durrells and additional music for Emmy nominated Victoria, and Ivor Novello nominated The Collection. Jon Wygens is a multi-instrumentalist and award winning composer for film and television. Great Continental Railway Journeys, written by Michael Portillo, was published by Simon & Schuster UK in October 2015.[5]. Not so, as culture also has a part to play. With Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo penetrates the eastern extreme of Europe to journey through the vast country of Russia. In Ploesti, he helps out in the world's first oil refinery and at Sinaia, he discovers a fairy tale castle with the most modern conveniences. Michael begins this journey in Berlin, the capital of Germany, which at the beginning of the 20th century was a powerhouse of science and technology. North of Helsinki, in Tampere, Michael takes to the water again to explore one of Finland's 180,000 lakes. Mit seinem Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide", einem Reisefhrer aus dem Jahr 1913, erkundet er eine ra des Optimismus, des Aufbruchs, eine Bltezeit der Technik, Wissenschaft und Kunst, die Belle . And there was a mercifully brief attempt at learning a few steps from the Aragonese folk dance la jota, but, for the most part, he stuck to limning Spains history and detailing the horrors of the civil war. Michael Portillo continues his journey through Germany, guided by his 1936 Bradshaws Continental Railway Guide. There have been 10 series of Great British Railway Journeys, in which he used George Bradshaws 1863 tourist handbook to investigate the sociopolitical impact of the age of steam on Britain, and several spin-offs (including journeys through Asia, Australia and Alaska) since. Great Continental Railway Journeys Michael Portillo travels on the great train routes of Europe, as he retraces the journeys featured in George Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway. Production of a second series included filming in Spain and Gibraltar in May and June 2013, following the RondaAlgeciras railway line, built in the 1890s by British interests under the Algeciras Gibraltar Railway Company, for the benefit of British officers stationed in Gibraltar wanting to travel to Spain and the rest of Europe. That feeling was confirmed as soon as I exited Vienna's stunning new main station. But that is what Portillo now is (and wears and does). Thats very nice, she replied. Along the way, Michael discovers the parlous state of Greek finances at the time of his guidebook. The first series is notable in that it featured the first television travelogue by comedian and comic actor Michael Palin ("Confessions of a Trainspotter"), who would go on to become as well known for his travel series (such as Pole to Pole and Sahara) as for his comedy. Heading north to Gargnano, Michael discovers the romantic hideaway of one of Britain's most famous writers, DH Lawrence, whose affair with his professor's wife scandalised his home country. In Carrara, he finds out how the marble used by Michelangelo is still quarried today and is invited to chip away at a contemporary sculpture. Connect your Spotify account to your Last.fm account and scrobble everything you listen to, from any Spotify app on any device or platform. Aboard the high-speed Sapsan to St Petersburg, Michael discovers the history behind the line, once the longest double-tracked railway in the world. A fishing trip in the bay affords spectacular views of the villages from the water. That gave way to a red jacket, orange shirt and yellow trousers. At the Bolshoi Theatre, Michael performs an important role in one of Russia's most dramatic operas. In Vienna, Michael Portillo encounters a pre-Cold War spy and learns about the concert that caused a riot in 1913. To capture his own view of the mighty Mount Kazbek Michael boards a helicopter to soar above the 5,000 metre peak first climbed in 1868. He then heads for the glorious Alps and learns how astonishing engineering feats conquered the most challenging peaks, before taking in the striking beauty of Lake Lucerne. Steered by his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo takes the train from the former political capital of Italy, Turin, to Casanova's capital of romance, Venice. Michael explores Sicilian life under the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini. Michael Portillo sets out to sample the delights of the Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, beginning in Bordeaux, where he uncovers a historic British connection to the region's wines. Although there have been no complete series of Great Railway Journeys released on DVD, Michael Palin's 1980 and 1994 programmes are available individually (BBCDVD1626) and as part of a box set of his collected travel documentaries, The Michael Palin Collection (BBCDVD2214). In Palermo, Michael takes in the art and architecture of the Futurists and feasts on spaghetti and sardines in the citys Ballaro market. Other similar series followed: Great Indian Railway Journeys in 2018 and Great Alaskan and Canadian Railroad Journeys and Great Australian Railway Journeys in 2019. With his 1913 Bradshaw's in hand, Michael Portillo journeys deep into central Europe to explore a country where east meets west: Poland. Similar series were broadcast in 1983, Great Little Railways, and 2010, Great British Railway Journeys . Michael Portillo embarks on a scenic thousand-mile rail journey from the Swedish capital, Stockholm, to Abisko in the northern reaches of the Arctic Circle, steered by his 1936 edition of Bradshaws Continental Railway Guide. Fortified by railway wine and Swiss fondue, Michael makes his way to the capital, Bern, where in a 1930s bi-plane, he follows in the slipstream of the Swiss pilot Oskar Bider, first to fly across the Alps. After braving one of the world's oldest rollercoasters in Copenhagen's famous Tivoli Gardens, Michael takes the train across the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark to Sweden, where he retraces the tracks of a train which carried a revolutionary Russian passenger on an epic voyage. Michael Portillo embarks on a glorious action-packed adventure from the Italian Riviera to the Austrian Alps with his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Guidebook in hand. Bordeaux to Bilbao. The wedding of the former king, Edward VIII, and the American divorcee, Wallis Simpson, at Chateau de Cande in the summer of 1937 was shunned by the British establishment. Then he takes the super fast train to . Striking north, Michael boards the long-distance train which runs from the Caspian Sea to the capital. He takes a detour to the island of Capri, before finishing his journey in the ancient hilltop town of Taormina. Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo visits Italy, where he experiences first-hand the nation's need for speed in a state-of-the-art Maserati sports car. The bodies of two lovers are entwined and the female figure is clearly in ecstasy. [8] A third series followed in January 2012, including five episodes on railways in Ireland. Forsaking the saddle, Michael takes to the skies and pilots a light aircraft as he learns of one of France's pioneering aviators. Great Continental Railway Journeys (2016), Zermatt to Geneva In the vast port, Michael joins a pilot boat as it leads a supertanker to its berth. In Austria's second city, Graz, Michael ventures underground at the Lurgrotte Caves to find out about a famous turn-of-the-century rescue operation. First is the pull of home "When you're 10,000 miles from Rome you stir extra care into your sauce," as Gianni Pisoni of Greenvale in Melbourne puts it. Not so, as culture also has a part to play. Over the border in the former imperial territory of Slovenia, Michael discovers how an earthquake in Ljubljana encouraged its citizens to assert their national identity in architecture and art. A fourth series aired in January 2013, also with 25 episodes, with the last five episodes focused again on railways in Ireland. Steered by his 1913 railway guide, Michael journeys through a prosperous pre-war Europe of emperors, kings, pomp and elegance. Heading north to Gargnano, Michael discovers the romantic hideaway of one of Britain's most famous writers, DH Lawrence, whose affair with his professor's wife scandalised his home country. Feature films include Flying Blind starring the late Helen McCrory and documentaries including BAFTA winning The Murder Trial (Channel 4) and The Age Of Nature (BBC). In Tallinn, seasoned members of the Tallinn Ice Swimming Club introduce Michael to their sport. His father fled to Oxford and got to know his future wife, who was looking after refugee children. He begins by weaving among the capital city's landmarks on the back of a 1950s Vespa, before boarding the train south to Naples, where he finds out about the first railway to be built in the country, and ventures into the crater of Mount Vesuvius. Following in the footsteps of Bradshaw's travellers, Michael explores the cradle of the Renaissance through Edwardian eyes but learns in Florence that the tourists' 'Italietta' was far removed from the new Italy envisaged by the futurists of the time. He then travels south along the tourist trail of the castle-studded Rhein river and ends his journey in the Rheingau to taste the wines of its age old vineyards. His journey ends at the gateway to the former French empire, Marseilles. The point of no return came at 3.10am with a return no one had been expecting. Great Continental Railway Journeys: With Michael Portillo, Andrew Martin, Mitch Waite, Clive Lamming. Boarding one of the narrowest gauge railways in the world, the Little Train of Pelion, Michael travels to the village of Milies, where he learns about the place of the Orthodox church in Greek national life. Michael boards an early 20th-century yacht to experience the thrill for himself and learns how British yachtsmen spied on the German navy. For the similar show broadcast from 2010, see. [1] In the early series, Portillo explores the railway networks of continental Europe, but in later series he also ventured further afield. He begins in the capital Warsaw, where he takes to the floor to dance to one of Chopin's polonaises with high-school students rehearsing for their leavers' ball, before discovering how the former industrial city of Lodz supplied the vast Russian empire of the early 20th century. The devout Catalan architect Anton Gaud set to work on a church that might redeem the crime: La Sagrada Familia. At the winter sports resort of Semmering, rails of a slippier kind prove hard to navigate when Michael takes to a toboggan. Its a heady journey, although a tweed jacket wouldnt go amiss. He refers to a 1913 copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, as he describes how the places he visits have changed since Edwardian times. In Kiel, Michael learns about the intense rivalry between Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany and his uncle, British King Edward VII, at the Kiel Week yacht races. At Coimbra, Michael is moved by the mournful strains of the fado sung by students of the university, then boards the high-speed train to the Portuguese capital Lisbon. In Verona, Michael discovers the 'House of the Capulets', bought to attract Edwardian tourists to the scene of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. Please download one of our supported browsers. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. After visiting Potsdam, he explores Weimar in central Germany, a city that has twelve buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Following in the footsteps of early 20th-century travellers, on this journey Michael uses his 1913 railway guide to explore Switzerland, whose remarkable railways helped make it a favourite with Edwardian tourists. One of the most spectacular events I have witnessed was a Thracian classical dance in the Roman Theatre in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. Starting in Budapest, the capital of Hungary, he travels via Bratislava in Slovakia to the beautiful and elegant city of Vienna, where he immerses himself in pre-war decadence. Michael Portillo, the treasury secretary with the curiously collapsed yet labile face and shoo-in for next Tory leader, lost the seat he had held comfortably five years before, to a Labour unknown, Stephen Twigg. Season 2. He learns from the buffet car cooks how to prepare a supper of meat-filled dumplings - Dagestani specialities called pylmeni. Getting off the train at Montreux, the most genteel of Swiss resorts, I came across the statue of Igor Stravinsky. He then heads over the rail bridge across the lagoon to Venice, where he finds a microcosm of pre-First World War Europe in the Venice Biennale art exhibition. In Lund, he samples a Smorgasbord before having a Highland fling in Gothenburg, where he test drives a vintage Volvo. Arriving in the Italian port of Trieste, Michael savours the imported coffee that fuelled a cafe culture. Amongst others, their inspirational leader Francesc Ferrer was imprisoned and executed by firing squad. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Michael Portillo travels across the European continent with his handy Bradshaw guide book. After braving one of the world's oldest rollercoasters in Copenhagen's famous Tivoli Gardens, Michael takes the train across the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark to Sweden, where he retraces the tracks of a train which carried a revolutionary Russian passenger on an epic voyage. On this leg he heads for the glorious Alps and learns how astonishing engineering feats conquered the most challenging peaks before taking in the striking beauty of Lake Lucerne. On the island, Michael finds out about apocalyptic scenes at Messina only five years prior to publication of his guidebook and marvels at the survival - and beauty - of the ancient hilltop town of Taormina, in the shadow of Mount Etna. Zaragozas modern tram network takes Michael to a factory where he is invited to test-drive new rolling stock destined for Britain. Striking north on the fast train across the Po Valley, Michael heads towards the Alps. We dont have any upcoming events for this artist right now. In some cases, the narrator did not partake in the train journey, and simply recited the writing of that episode's producer. Relax. In the ancient city of Plovdiv, Michael discovers a Roman amphitheatre built in the 2nd century AD and still in use today. English musician and sound artist Chris Watson worked as an audio recorder for the fourth episode "Los Mochis to Veracruz" of the fourth season. Arriving in Munich, he finds a blue horse created at the time of his guidebook and discovers an early 20th century pioneer who laid the foundations for the city's pre-eminence in science and technology today. Michael is ambushed by singers of the city's legendary trallalero and learns to whip up a mean pesto Genovese. From Naples, pausing only to pick up a pizza, Michael boards a ferry to travel to the beautiful island of Capri, a magnet for the writers and artists of Europe at the time of his guidebook. Michael ends his journey in Thessaloniki where, in 1913, Greece's King George I was assassinated. Arriving in Istanbul, Michael takes a trip on the Bosphorus - a much-coveted stretch of water - finds out about Turkish delight and travels along the Marmaray metro line, which connects European and Asian Istanbul via a tunnel beneath the Bosphorus. Jon Wygens [ Music ] John Comerford [ Executive Producer ] Programma televisivo della stessa categoria. He discovers the magnificent art and architecture of the Dutch Golden Age and marvels at the engineering ingenuity of this fiercely independent nation. At Asilah, Michael lends a hand with the construction of Morocco's new 3 billion high-speed railway line to Casablanca. On this leg, he finds peace paddling a canoe on the lakes of Finland, grills sausages in Helsinki, and samples cloudberry liqueur in a hot tub by the light of Finland's midnight sun. [1] Using an 1899 copy of Appleton's Guidebook to the railways of the United States and Canada, Portillo explores historic Canadian railways and learns about the places along the way. Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo returns to his native Spain to discover what the intrepid tourists of the Belle Epoque experienced on their travels through the fading Spanish empire. In Delphi, he discovers how at the turn of the 20th century an entire village was removed in order to excavate the site of the oracle. A performance of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty at Odessa's exquisite opera house rounds off his journey. Great Continental Railway Journeys. Crossing the border from Bohemia to Bavaria, Michael encounters a fire breathing dragon in Furth-im-Wald and in Nuremberg he rides German railway history - made in Britain. BBC Two Great Continental Railway Journeys Home Episodes Clips Michael Portillo travels on the great train routes of Europe, as he retraces the journeys featured in George Bradshaw's 1913. At Kiev's beautiful St Sophia Cathedral, Michael seeks to understand the history behind Ukraine's current conflict with its vast neighbour and discovers how Ukraine adopted Orthodox Christianity. Titel: Great Continental Railway Journeys; Datum der ersten bertragung: 2012-11-08. His destination is Istanbul, a multi-ethnic city where Europe and Asia meet via an underground railway. From Agrigento he heads inland to Enna and the picturesque but remote village of Gangi. In Fez, he dodges the donkeys and learns how to make lamb tagine before being scrubbed down in a traditional hammam. He pays homage to the genius of Barcelona's most famous architect and meets the man responsible for finishing off Antoni Gaudi's life's work. A fifth series following in January 2014 with 20 episodes, making a total airing of 115 episodes across the five series. Arriving in Istanbul, Michael orients himself with a boat trip on the Bosphorus, samples some Turkish delight and crosses from Europe to Asia on the Marmaray metro line which now joins the two continents. Fingers crossed there will be no more . At a time of imperial plumes and white tie balls, it celebrated raw savagery. Steered by his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo continues his journey through Romania, tapping into the nation's musical soul in Bucharest and loading cargo from a 100-foot crane in Constanta. I joined in. Michael Portillo follows in the footsteps of Edwardian travellers to trace a route recommended in his Bradshaw's guide, journeying from the heart of France to the Mediterranean coast. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) At the time of his guidebook it was a magnificent terminus, but today it stands ruined and derelict. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for GREAT CONTINENTAL RAILWAY JOURNEYS SERIES 2 dvd REGION 4 michael portillo NEW at the best online prices at eBay! In January 2010 BBC Two broadcast Great British Railway Journeys, a documentary with similar basic idea to Great Railway Journeys but with a different format. 7.673. Braving the traffic, Michael begins his Roman holiday by weaving among the capital city's magnificent landmarks on the back of a 1950s Vespa. Number of seasons: 7 Number of episodes: 37. He samples the best of Swedish fika and takes an icy dip one of the countrys 96,000 lakes. From the Swiss Alps to the shores of Lake Geneva caught up in a war zone with the Red Cross and rescued from an avalanche by a St Bernard puppy. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Great Continental Railway Journeys, Portillo, Michael, Used; Good Book at the best online prices at eBay! With Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo ventures east through Romania. Radio Times Travel offers. Armed with his 1913 Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a Greek odyssey from Athens's port of Piraeus north to the city of Thessaloniki, captured the year before from the Ottoman Turks, who had ruled much of Greece for 400 years. Honestly yellow jacket, purple shirt and tomato trousers comprised his opening outfit. He savours the soul of Georgia in its wine and discovers a surprise 19th-century tea plantation in the West Georgian countryside. With his 1913 Bradshaw's in hand, Michael Portillo ventures deep into the Black Forest on a quest to discover the essence of Germany and discovers how Hansel and Gretel helped to unify the nation. In the spa of kings, Marienbad, now known as Marianske Lazne, Michael samples the sulphurous waters and wallows in peat and mud. Will four-year-old puppy Easy rise to the challenge? Michael's journey through the Balkans - the powder keg of Europe - follows the route of the historic Orient Express. Season 2. Give Peace a Chance Another anthem for peace, and a damn good song in its own right. From the from the Italian Riviera to the Austrian Alps Michael visits remote villages of the Cinque Terre he then heads to Parma next up is the Alps stopping off in Rovereto he ends his trip at the Brenner Pass home to on of the world's longest rail tunnels. He then travels the Habsburg imperial line across the Semmering Pass, a line blasted through the Alps. When The Rite of Spring premiered, there was pandemonium. From Wroclaw it's on to the ancient capital of Poland, Krakow, where Michael lunches in a milk bar and takes a tour in an iconic vehicle of the communist era. On his travels, he is trampled underfoot at the bottom of a Catalan people steeple and learns to make the perfect paella. Steered by his 1913 railway guide, on the second part of this journey Michael Portillo continues to explore the once-great empire of Austria-Hungary, domain of the famous Habsburg monarchs. Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo travels the Habsburg imperial line from Vienna across the awe-inspiring Semmering Pass, a handmade railway line blasted through the Alps. Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo embarks on a journey from the Swiss Alps to the shores of Lake Geneva. The highlight of the trip for me was to be given a private recital by the great Romanian violinist Alexandru Tomescu, playing music by George Enescu, a composer who was coming of age as Romania gained its freedom from the Habsburg empire, and who celebrated his country's folk tradition. This is one of the world's most-covered songs, meaning both artists and audiences love it. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. as the hour and the miles unfolded. Michael begins in the port of Batumi on the dazzling Caucasian Riviera. Michael visits the magnificent stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix. Michael Portillo travels from the chateaux of the Loire Valley to the heart of the Champagne region at Reims. A spot of on-the-job training as a welder is a salutary lesson to stick with the day job. His unique window on Europe between the world wars takes him through a tumultuous period in German history, when the nations first democracy and its vibrant culture of art, design and decadence were swept away by fascism, nationalism and the increasing likelihood of war. At the Palais de la Bourse, Michael hears how, at the time of his guide, the city was still reeling from the assassination of the country's president and how a shocked French nation rallied in support of the Third Republic. Arriving in Wroclaw, Michael heads for a giant train factory, where they continue to manufacture car bodies for locomotives today.