Great Continental Railway Journeys - Wikipedia From Tallinn, Michael crosses the Baltic Sea by ferry to Helsinki, where he discovers the music of the great Finnish composer Jean Sibelius and learns how his masterpiece Finlandia spurred Finns towards independence. Great Continental Railway Journeys - TheTVDB.com 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). great australian railway journeys dvd release date His destination is the Adriatic port of Trieste. Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The scenery was unrelentingly, heart-swellingly beautiful the golden sandstone of Salamanca; the best of Roman, Christian and Islamic art and architecture poured into Zaragoza; the enclosed medieval citadel of vila seemingly glowing with centuries of stored sunlight. Prague to Munich. But that is what Portillo now is (and wears and does). His journey begins in the capital of cuisine, Lyon, where he finds out about the early 20th-century Meres Lyonnaises, to whom the city owes its gastronomic reputation. Emperor Franz Josef ordered the building of the impressive Ringstrasse along the lines of the old city walls. 253 pages : 25 cm. Toronto is at its best during this beautiful spring season. Great Continental Railway Journeys review: potent stuff - and that's Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo makes a grand tour of a favourite Edwardian destination - Italy - where he experiences first-hand the nation's need for speed in a state-of-the-art Maserati sports car. En route, he is caught up in a war zone with the Red Cross, takes to the skies in a vintage bi-plane and tries his hand at watchmaking, James Bond style. There he seeks the protection of a local historian as he traces the story behind this notorious mafia hideout of the 1930s. Arriving at the ornately tiled Sao Bento station in Porto, he finds out about the birth of Britain's long alliance with the Portuguese. Great Continental Railway Journeys is now a firmly established series on BBC2, following in the illustrious tracks of its predecessor - Great British Railway Journeys. 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. Great British Railway Journeys soundtrack - Last.fm Michaels final stop is on the border with France, at Canfranc Station. Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo travels from the Swiss Alps to the shores of Lake Geneva. Moving south to the city of Arles, he learns how its light and the famous mistral drew artists from all over Europe. A hundred years ago, Latvia, Estonia and Finland were part of the Russian Tsar's vast empire but, as Michael discovers, each country had a vibrant identity and culture of its own. Michael ends his journey in Thessaloniki where, in 1913, Greece's King George I was assassinated. At the winter sports resort of Semmering, rails of a slippier kind prove hard to navigate when Michael takes to a toboggan. Great Continental Railway Journeys, Series 2 - Episode guide - BBC Great Continental Railway Journeys (TV Series 2012- ) - IMDb Its rhythms were primitive and its themes unmistakably sexual. Sorry, comments are closed for this item. Put some tweed and some Churchs brogues on and relax. At the Museo Reina Sofia, Michael hears how the bombing of a small town in the Basque region in 1937 inspired one of the 20th centurys most shocking works of art. In Palermo, Michael takes in the art and architecture of the Futurists and feasts on a Sicilian speciality, spaghetti and sardines. Arriving in Paris at the Champs de Mars station, Michael takes in an epic view of the city from the top of the Arc de Triomphe before heading for Montparnasse, where wildly creative artists and writers of the 1920s and 1930s spawned new art movements. Best Time to Visit Toronto in 2023: Weather and Climate They are now long out-of-print, but occasionally are offered from online sellers. That gave way to a red jacket, orange shirt and yellow trousers. Overview: York to FrizinghallArmed with his Edwardian Bradshaw's guide, Michael Portillo conducts important research in an historic tea room, built by an Edwardian immigrant to the city of York. Hard on their heels in Madrid, he visits the scene of a grim assassination attempt at the royal wedding of a British princess and a Spanish king. 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. Michael Portillo continues his railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. In Vienna, Michael Portillo encounters a pre-Cold War spy and learns about the concert that caused a riot in 1913. Michael Portillo follows his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide to continue his journey through the Netherlands. In Madrid, he visits the scene of an assaination attempt at the royal wedding of a British princess and a Spanish king. Heading to Bilbao, he explores the industrial ties between France and Spain and learns to cook a traditional Basque dish. Heading south again on the long journey to Reggio Calabria, Michael shares lunch on board with fellow British travellers before their train is loaded onto a ferry for the short sail to Sicily. He takes a detour to the island of Capri, before finishing his journey in the ancient hilltop town of Taormina. Without access to a smartphone, though, I had to wait until the morning to find out precisely why. Michael embarks on a rail journey through Germany, steered by a Bradshaws Continental Railway Guide published in 1936. Back in the city again, Michael meets former Russia correspondent Martin Sixsmith to discover how the strikes, mutinies and massacres, which took place shortly before Bradshaw's 1913 guidebook was published, were to unfold and the part the railways were to play in those tumultuous events. I joined in. 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. 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. 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. Steered by his 1913 railway guide, Michael journeys through a prosperous pre-war Europe of emperors, kings, pomp and elegance. After a 14-year hiatus, a further three series were broadcast between 1994 and 1999, using the shorter series title. 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. Michael Portillo travels across the European continent with his handy Bradshaw guide book. 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. At Martigny, Michael puts his faith in St Bernard after he is buried in snow. BBC iPlayer - Great Continental Railway Journeys 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. 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. In Vienna, he encounters a pre-Cold War spy and hears for himself the concert that caused a riot in 1913. At Goettingen University, Michael discovers two sides of student life at the turn of the 20th century - the duelling fraternities and the groundbreaking scientists who laid the foundation for Germany's world class transport technology today. Great British And Continental Railway Journeys dvd | eBay Now he embarks on the sixth series of Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC Two), beginning in Spain and this time guided by the 1936 edition of Bradshaws Continental Railway Guide, which was a big year in that particular pais and for Portillos pa, a don and leftwing activist at the University of Salamanca, who was three years away from needing to flee Franco. Heading south west from Warsaw, Michael's fellow passengers come to his rescue with a crash course in Polish pronunciation. Looking at history and trying 21st century things that changed since before The Great War. And he discovers a beautiful art nouveau Palace of Music with an emotional history. Great Continental Railway Journeys (BBC2) - Ravel-Chapuis Music Library Great Continental Railway Journeys by Michael Portillo - Goodreads Michael ends his journey in futuristic style with a high-speed boat trip across Lake Garda. Inspired by the music and story of Poland's national icon Frederic Chopin, Michael takes to the floor to dance the polonaise with high school students rehearsing for their leavers' ball. Great Continental Railway Journeys: All Episodes - Trakt He travels to Leipzig on a historic railway line, built by British engineers in 1839. He visits the beautiful country estate of Yasnaya Polyana, where Tolstoy wrote his masterpieces, and learns how the author's life and works were inextricably entwined with the railways. On this leg Michael explores the once-great empire of Austria-Hungary, domain of the famous Habsburg monarchs. The title Great Continental Railway Journeys has led some to believe that the series is designed solely for train spotters. 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. In Cordoba, Michael dances with an unusual partner and enjoys all the fun of the feria. Steered by his 1913 Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo returns to Spain to trace the early 20th-century roots of the Spanish Civil War, which divided his Spanish family and sent his father into exile. Michael ends his journey in futuristic style with a high speed boat trip across Lake Garda. With his 1913 guidebook in hand, Michael Portillo explores the stunning art nouveau architecture of the Czech capital. Like the railway traveller of a hundred years ago, Michael discovers a land full of surprises. Michael Portillo, I said, seemed slimy . This episode offers beautiful views along the Rhine and also shows various cities in the area including Colonge and Koblenz. A fishing trip in the bay affords spectacular views of the villages from the water. List of all seasons: Season 1. 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. He learns from the buffet car cooks how to prepare a supper of meat-filled dumplings - Dagestani specialities called pylmeni. Back in the city again, Michael meets former Russia correspondent Martin Sixsmith to discover how the strikes, mutinies and massacres, which took place shortly before Bradshaw's 1913 guidebook was published, were to unfold and the part the railways were to play in those tumultuous events. In the Capo district, he learns how the islands distinctive puppets are made and is enchanted to meet one carrying a Bradshaw. Your current browser isn't compatible with SoundCloud. 2012-11-08. Making history in contemporary art at the Venice Biennale, Sensationalists: The Bad Girls and Boys of British Art. Starting in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, he travels via Bratislava in Slovakia, to the beautiful and elegant city of Vienna where he immerses himself in pre-war decadence. As he embarks on a new series, Portillo selects some of his favourite trips and cultural highlights, drawn from the five series of railway journeys. He begins in the truly international city of Basel and travels east to visit industrial Zurich. BBC's Great Continental Railway Journeys "Switzerland" S01E04 Outside the city he crosses swords with Cossack warriors and gains an insight into Ukrainians' national identity. At the Museum of Modern Art in Berlins Kreuzberg, Michael sees how a leading artist of the era, Georg Grosz, warned of the rise of fascism in a haunting self-portrait. Heading to Bilbao, he explores the industrial ties between France and Spain and learns to cook a traditional Basque dish . Since summer visitors have not yet arrived, spring is a great time to get hotel discounts. 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 Bucharest, Romania's leading violinist, Alexandre Tomescu, introduces Michael Portillo to the music of his countrys greatest composer, George Enescu, in a private recital with his Stradivarius. This will follow Michael as he journeys from Berlin to Stuttgart, soaking up all of Germany's history. A romantic stop at the ruined Schloss in Heidelberg follows before Michael gets an insider's guide to share dealing on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. With his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo ventures east to a land which a century ago was part of the Russian Empire and today is the independent state of Ukraine. Michael discovers how the leaning tower of Pisa was rescued from near collapse. Heading further into Andalusia, Michael arrives in Seville, the city he has made his Spanish home. Among the golden onion domes and icons of Tula, Michael is moved by the sound of a Russian Orthodox choir. Books have been published to accompany the first three series, with a chapter by each of the presenters on their particular journey: A similar book was also published on Great Little Railways: On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. [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. He begins in Israel, learning about the Baha'i faith and how it spread to Britain in the Edwardian era, hearing the story of the origins of Tel Aviv, and visiting the Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters of the capital Jerusalem. 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). Season 2. In Brunswick, he learns how the arrival of the railway added its own flavour to the local beer before moving on to Hamburg, where he discovers model railway making on the grandest of scales. Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo travels east through the rose fields of Bulgaria, celebrates that nation's early 20th-century independence with a traditional Thracian dance and discovers no holds are barred in one of the world's oldest sports tournaments - oil wrestling. Along the way, our man of the match discovers how an Edwardian Briton brought 'the beautiful game' to the historic port of Genoa. Not so, as culture also has a part to play. Michael meets her modern-day incarnation. The first series was originally broadcast on BBC Two in 2012. North of Helsinki, in Tampere, Michael takes to the water again to explore one of Finland's 180,000 lakes. In Poznan, at the heart of former German Poland, Michael takes in the view from the kaiser's balcony before climbing aboard what is possibly the last steam-powered commuter train. Great Continental Railway Journeys: With Michael Portillo, Andrew Martin, Mitch Waite, Clive Lamming. Travelling through the Corinth Canal, Michael finds out about the surprisingly ancient origins of the modern railway. At a private museum dedicated to the life of the most infamous Georgian, Joseph Stalin, Michael asks how Georgians today feel about the former dictator of the Soviet Union. Unless Big Primary Colour has got something on you? Michael Portillo uses his Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Guidebook to undertake the second leg of his journey through Italy from the Riviera to the Alps. From the Grand Hotel Europe, advertised in his Bradshaw's, Michael explores the beauty and history of St Petersburg, from the great Nevsky Prospekt to the magnificent Winter Palace with its Hermitage Museum, then rides the first railway ever built in Russia between the city and the Tsar's village - Tsarskoye Selo. His journey ends in the Rheingau to taste the wines of its age old vineyards. 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 Portillo ventures once more on to the European rail network to retrace journeys featured in George Bradshaw's 1913 publication Continental Guide, beginning by travelling through Russia. Presenter: Michael Portillo, Executive Producer: John Comerford, Series Producer: Alison Kreps, Production Company: Boundless Productions. He will end his epic journey in the forest of Compiegne to hear how, after four years of conflict, the Armistice was finally signed in a railway carriage. Sofia to Istanbul But workers unhappy with their lot were rebelling. Along the way, Michael discovers the parlous state of Greek finances at the time of his guidebook. Similar series were broadcast in 1983, Great Little Railways, and 2010, Great British Railway Journeys. Michael learns of the role it played during the Second World War and hears about its forthcoming new lease of life. After breakfast on board Michael sets out to explore a vibrant and cosmopolitan city with French, Italian, Russian and Jewish influences. That feeling was confirmed as soon as I exited Vienna's stunning new main station. Further east in the beautiful region of Rumelia, Michael picks roses with the flower girls to produce precious rose oil in a 100-year-old distillery. You might also like: Michael Portillo on going from politics to riding the rails. Special dispensation to fly to the Balearic island of Mallorca allows Michael to spoil himself rotten with spectacularly scenic rides aboard a sublime 1912 vintage railway and a 1913 tram. The overnight service from Tbilisi to Baku delivers Michael to Azerbaijan, the so-called 'land of fire' because of the natural gas which seeps from the ground and ignites the hills. Add Image. He starts in the beautiful golden city of Salamanca, where his father was happy as a young left-wing professor. Credits includes the hugely successful series Sanditon, Bloodlands and The Durrells and additional music for Emmy nominated Victoria, and Ivor Novello nominated The Collection. At Prague Central Station, Michael meets a woman who, as a young girl, travelled by train to safety in London. All seven of the 1980 Series 1 programs, including Palin's Confessions of a Train Spotter, were released in 1986 in cooperation with the BBC on VHS tapes by Pentrex, a California railroad video company. 6 / 6 Michael Portillo samples the delights of the French and Spanish Atlantic coast. Along the way, he recreates the famous Italian Job on an historic Fiat test track and follows fashion in Milan before investigating the early 20th-century British love affair with Lake Como in a seaplane. After visiting Potsdam, he explores Weimar in central Germany, a city that has twelve buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list. At Goettingen University, Michael discovers two sides of student life at the turn of the 20th century - the duelling fraternities and the groundbreaking scientists, who laid the foundation for Germany's world-class transport technology today. Ever keen to try his hand, Michael takes instruction from a top chef on how to make an omelette, but his efforts fail to impress. Along the way, he marvels at the Matterhorn and is rescued from an 'avalanche' by a St Bernard puppy. At the Skoda factory in Pilsen he investigates how the machine products of peacetime gave way to the manufacture of armaments for war and test drives a state of the art passenger train locomotive made there today. Michael takes the helm to explore the port of Siracusa by boat and enjoys a sumptuous picnic of Sicilian specialities before visiting a controversial monument, which depicts a dark chapter in Italian history. Beginning in historic Orleans, Michael follows his Bradshaws guide to the magnificent stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, which tell the story of Joan of Arc. Michael explores Sicilian life under the dictatorship of Benito Mussolini. Great continental railway journeys - Internet Archive 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. Great Continental Railway Journeys series 7 episode 3 missing: When Arriving in Utrecht, Michael discovers the main hub of the Dutch railway network and its busiest station. With his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo continues his journey through Latvia, Estonia and Finland. On the pilgrims' trail to Santiago de Compostela, Michael meets walkers from all over the world heading for the cathedral, and he is led into the archive to see one of the world's first guidebooks, dating from the 12th century. This article is about the BBC Two travel documentary broadcast in the 1980s and 90s. 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. Season 7. Season 2. 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. 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. Getting off the train at Montreux, the most genteel of Swiss resorts, I came across the statue of Igor Stravinsky. Michael Portillo travels on the great train routes of E >. 5 Episodes. Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide was published in 1913 and was a guide to Europe's rail network on the brink of the First World War. He learns from the buffet car cooks how to prepare a supper of meat-filled dumplings - Dagestani specialities called pylmeni. 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. In Avignon, Michael savours the scent of Provence in the region's lavender fields before relaxing with a glass of the city's famous tipple, Chateauneuf-du-Pape. But whilst the facades are beautiful, behind the buildings were cheaply constructed warrens. 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. as the hour and the miles unfolded. Great Continental Railway Journeys continues on Tuesdays 9pm BBC2. The first series detailed four railway journeys following an 1840 Bradshaw's guide, split into a run of 20 separate episodes. Great Continental Railway Journeys, Portillo, Michael, Used; Good Book One of the most spectacular events I have witnessed was a Thracian classical dance in the Roman Theatre in the Bulgarian city of Plovdiv. Michael Portillo's Great Railway Journeys Having spent between five weeks to a month on the train, Watson used field recordings of the journey for his 2011 album El Tren Fantasma.[1][2][3]. Without Guernica, said Portillo to the art historian who had talked him through what could legitimately be considered to be the greatest, most harrowing painting of the 20th century, they would never have met. There was a pause. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. You need to enable JavaScript to use SoundCloud. His journey ends at the gateway to the former French empire, Marseilles. (The smartest thing Spain ever did was stay out of the first world war.) There is always the slight impression that the involvement of other people even though they are usually archivists and experts there to unpack a historical moment or explain the significance of an artefact feels like an intrusion on his time. An excursion to a nearby bathing resort popular at the time of his guide and during Soviet times leads Michael to a hydropathic establishment where he braves an intimate massage in warm mud. After a picnic of chewy dried fish and beer on board a Soviet-era train, Michael arrives in Estonia where, in the magical setting of a ruined 13th-century cathedral, he hears a choir sing the nation's most important song and learns how, more recently, the Baltic countries demonstrated their desire for independence from the Soviet Union with a Singing Revolution. In a caf popular with artists of the time he discovers the dance craze of the day - the tango - and gamely gives it a go. Great British Railway Journeys Opening Theme, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 01 - Recovery, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 02 - Mother Nature Coming Back, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 03 - Nature Rebound, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 04 - Cod, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 05 - Panama Canal, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 06 - Great Barrier Reef, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 07 - Alien Trees, Jon Wygens - The Age Of Nature (Music From The Series) - 08 - Bialowieza Forest, Jon Wygens Film and Television Composer's likes, Jon Wygens Film and Television Composer's playlists, Jon Wygens Film and Television Composer's tracks, Jon Wygens Film and Television Composer's comments.