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. Not so, as culture also has a part to play. Michael begins in the port of Batumi on the dazzling Caucasian Riviera. The third episode of Great Continental Railway Journeys series 7 will return to its usual slot come Wednesday, August 19th. Michael continues his railway journey from Sicilys capital, Palermo, through the ancient town of Agrigento and the port of Siracusa to Europes largest volcano, Mount Etna. Michael boards an early 20th-century yacht to experience the thrill for himself and learns how British yachtsmen spied on the German navy. Michael Portillo sports a modern edition of his Bradshaw's Handbook as he heads for Spain. 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. 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. Michael Portillo continues his railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. He discovers a nation fractured at the time by social tensions and regional loyalties, which today offers a rich diversity of cultures to delight the tourist. Indeed, in the "tragic week" in July/August 1909 perhaps 150 were shot by the army during protests organised by socialists and anarchists. Michael learns how diplomacy brought Britain and Spain closer together and rides on a hair-raising scenic railway. Michael visits the magnificent stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix. 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. 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. Today he experiences the dazzling cities of the pre-war Low Countries and tastes the delicacies of Brussels before travelling to the French sector of the Western Front, where from 1914, the trains carried a new cargo of artillery shells, and the Edwardian tourists of 1913 were replaced by soldiers, facing the horrors of the trenches. Put some tweed and some Churchs brogues on and relax. 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. On the winding roads at Rovereto, he discovers how one of the world's best known carmakers sealed its international reputation by winning the 1913 Alpine Trial in a Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. Michael Portillo embarks on a railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. 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. 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. 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 Portillo continues his railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. Along the way, Michael discovers the parlous state of Greek finances at the time of his guidebook. Travelling through the Corinth Canal, Michael finds out about the surprisingly ancient origins of the modern railway. Michael makes a scenic journey from Stockholm to Abisko. Michael Portillo uses his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway guide to complete his journey through Switzerland. Sofia to Istanbul He discovers the magnificent art and architecture of the Dutch Golden Age and marvels at the engineering ingenuity of this fiercely independent nation. 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. Boarding the fast train to Lviv, Michael reads in his Bradshaw that the city was formerly known as Lemberg and at the time of his guidebook it was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo travels from the Swiss Alps to the shores of Lake Geneva. Both series are fronted by ex-politician Michael Portillo and in this European odyssey he travels around continental Europe, using George Bradshaw's1913 . 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. Aboard the high-speed Sapsan to St Petersburg, Michael discovers the history behind the line, once the longest double-tracked railway in the world. Leaving London behind, Michael follows the most popular route of the Edwardian traveller through France. Michael Portillo heads for the Netherlands, where he roots around the world's largest flower auction in Haarlem, operates a crane in Europe's largest container port, Rotterdam, and investigates Amsterdam's famous red-light district. He discovers in Montreux how a ballet caused a riot and how a prisoner became immortalised in verse. 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. Among the golden onion domes and icons of Tula, Michael is moved by the sound of a Russian Orthodox choir. On the first stretch of his journey from the Latvian capital, Riga, to Tampere in Finland, he braves the freezing temperatures of the Baltic Sea and encounters medieval knights. Without access to a smartphone, though, I had to wait until the morning to find out precisely why. 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. 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. Jon Wygens [ Music ] John Comerford [ Executive Producer ] Programma televisivo della stessa categoria. In Palermo, Michael takes in the art and architecture of the Futurists and feasts on spaghetti and sardines in the citys Ballaro market. Relax. Great Continental Railway Journeys: Dresden to Kiel: Part Two Great Continental Railway Journeys (2012) . Were you still up for Portillo, a hundred years ago in 1997? Great Continental Railway Journeys is a British television documentary series presented by Michael Portillo. Travelling through the Corinth Canal, Michael finds out about the surprisingly ancient origins of the modern railway. Michael learns how a planned boycott by the United States and other European nations failed and how the success of a black American athlete undermined the Nazi ideology of Aryan superiority. Jon studied at the National Film & Television School graduating with a Masters degree in composing for Film and Television and lives between London and Madrid. That gave way to a red jacket, orange shirt and yellow trousers. Together, they visit the preserved trenches, and Michael finds out how Orwells experiences shaped his novels. Great Continental Railway Journeys Staffel 6 (alle Folgen) 3600. He then travels to the French sector of the Western Front, where from 1914 the trains carried a new cargo of artillery shells, with the Edwardian tourists of 1913 replaced by soldiers facing the horrors of the trenches. [1] In the early series, Portillo explores the railway networks of continental Europe, but in later series he also ventured further afield. Javascript is required to view shouts on this page. Aboard the West Galician Railway, Michael hears how a 19th-century British railwayman sought his fortune in Galicia and ended up running the company. 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. 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. 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. Beginning in Dresden, Michael explores the city of one of his favourite opera composers, Richard Wagner. Credits includes the hugely successful series Sanditon, Bloodlands and The Durrells and additional music for Emmy nominated Victoria, and Ivor Novello nominated The Collection. 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. He samples the best of Swedish fika and takes an icy dip one of the countrys 96,000 lakes. 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. 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 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. Michael Portillo travels from the chateaux of the Loire Valley to the heart of the Champagne region at Reims. 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. Great British Railway Journeys - Season 9 Episode 12. 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. Transylvania to the Black Sea There he seeks the protection of a local historian as he traces the story behind this notorious mafia hideout of the 1930s. Like the railway traveller of a hundred years ago, Michael discovers a land full of surprises. The seat of power beckons in Kutaisi, home to the wonderful glass dome built for the Parliament of Georgia when it moved here from the capital, Tbilisi, in 2012. Braving the force of the Goettingen wind tunnel, Michael investigates the track where model trains are fired at up to 360km per hour. Great Continental Railway Journeys continues on Tuesdays 9pm BBC2. He carries with him the Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide book from 1913 and compares photos of then versus the reality of today. He takes a water taxi along the Nieuwe Maas river to the windmills of Kinderdijk to see how the Dutch conquered the waters which threaten their land. Following in the footsteps of early 20th-century British tourists, Michael tours this compact country, which boasted a mighty navy and a global empire to rival that of Britain. 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. Thats very nice, she replied. In 2020, the BBC made series 2 available on the BBC iPlayer. In the spa of kings, Marienbad, now known as Marianske Lazne, Michael samples the sulphurous waters and wallows in peat and mud. Great British Railway Journeys, an Album by Jon Wygens. Series 8 was filmed in Spring and Summer 2022. 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 Delft, Michael learns how the city came to specialise in pottery and finds out the secrets of its success. Michael continues his rail journey through Spain with his 1930s Bradshaws guide. With his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo continues his journey through Latvia, Estonia and Finland. His destination lies close to his heart: the ancient kingdom of Spain and land of his father, recommended in Michaels guidebook for its exceptional climate and glorious history. 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. Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo ventures to the northernmost reaches of Europe. 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. The fourth series aired in 2015. Jon Wygens is a multi-instrumentalist and award winning composer for film and television. At the handsome Palace Square, Michael hears how turbulent events at the time of his guide saw the Portuguese royal family almost wiped out. Michael Portillo travels to Spain, the country his father fled during the bloody civil war. 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. The latest series of his travelogue sees the politician-turned-presenter delve into his fathers life in Spain. Great Canadian Railway Journeys is a BBC travel documentary series presented by Michael Portillo and aired on BBC Two. Michael begins an emotional rail journey that takes him deep into his familys past and reveals the tentacles of the regime which forced his father into exile. Glinka: Travelling Song (The Train Song), 1840. At the Bolshoi Theatre, Michael performs an important role in one of Russia's most dramatic operas. 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. The point of no return came at 3.10am with a return no one had been expecting. His first stop is Paris, where he absorbs the atmosphere of La Belle poque, before he travels south to the Cote D'Azur, where he samples the Edwardian highlife and learns why the area attracted the rich and artistic alike. Michael Portillo travels by rail throughout Continental Europe. The Atlantic coast of France and Spain, Bordeaux, claret, trams. Genres: Chamber Music, Television Music. This early 20th-century handbook opened up an exotic world to the Edwardian tourist. In Lviv, Michael learns to make Vareniki, the sour cheese-filled pasta, which is so popular in Ukraine, and encounters a much loved 19th-century poet before boarding the overnight express to Odessa. A century ago, Michael's journey would have been interrupted by hostilities - the Balkan Wars - on account of which, train services were suspended. Forsaking the saddle, Michael takes to the skies and pilots a light aircraft as he learns of one of France's pioneering aviators. 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 the heroine of France, Joan of Arc. At Belorussky Station in Moscow, Michael hears how thousands of Russians journeyed to the capital in 1913 to mark the Romanov royal family's tercentenary year. Along the way, Michael discovers the parlous state of Greek finances at the time of his guidebook. Along the way, Michael discovers the parlous state of Greek finances at the time of his guidebook. Fingers crossed there will be no more . 7.673. In Palermo, Michael takes in the art and architecture of the futurists. After sipping sherry in Jerez, he traces Winston Churchill's tense diplomatic mission to Algeciras on Spain's Costa del Sol and finishes with tales of British espionage on the Rock of Gibraltar. Michael learns of the role it played during the Second World War and hears about its forthcoming new lease of life. Steered by his 1913 railway guide, Michael journeys through a prosperous pre-war Europe of emperors, kings, pomp and elegance. 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. Following in the footsteps of King Edward VII, who visited his cousin King Carlos in 1903, Michael explores the city from the Santa Justa lift to the harbour at Belem. Despite it having no direct connection to the European railway network, a chapter was devoted to Gibraltar in the 1913 guidebook.[3]. 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. Michael ends his journey in futuristic style with a high-speed boat trip across Lake Garda. 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. To hear the story, Michael hitches a ride in the famous marque's most modern counterpart, a gleaming new convertible Dawn. Its a heady journey, although a tweed jacket wouldnt go amiss. Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw, Michael Portillo explores a very different Spain from the one he knows best and ventures across its border with Britain's oldest ally, Portugal. 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. When The Rite of Spring premiered, there was pandemonium. 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. Starting in 2020, a new series featuring railways and locations in South East Asia is being broadcast on BBC2.[9]. He savours the soul of Georgia in its wine and discovers a surprise 19th-century tea plantation in the West Georgian countryside. 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. 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. 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. Michael Portillo continues his railway adventure which takes him across the heart of Europe. In Vienna, he encounters a pre-Cold War spy and hears for himself the concert that caused a riot in 1913. Not so, as culture also has a part to play. Moving south to the city of Arles, he learns how its light and the famous mistral drew artists from all over Europe. With his 1913 guidebook in hand, he discovers in Tangier how this once proudly independent nation fell under the control of the French as rival European powers scrambled to extend their empires in Africa. 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. North of Helsinki, in Tampere, Michael takes to the water again to explore one of Finland's 180,000 lakes. Riga to Tampere At the medieval convent of Gelati Michael sees how magnificent frescoes are being painstakingly restored and finds out about the most powerful king in Georgian history. Its rhythms were primitive and its themes unmistakably sexual. Both series are fronted by ex-politician Michael Portillo and in this European odyssey he travels around continental Europe, using George Bradshaw's1913 Continental Railway Guide. Armed with his trusty 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo travels to the Ukrainian capital, Now using a 1936 edition of Bradshaws Continental Handbook, Portillo visits the city of, Portillo begins this journey in the historic city of, In the final episode of the series, Portillo begins his journey in the, This page was last edited on 7 January 2023, at 12:38. Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw's, Michael Portillo explores a very different Spain from the one he knows best and ventures across its border with Britain's oldest ally, Portugal. Michael Portillo uses his 1913 copy of Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide to explore Poland. 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. He begins in the truly international city of Basel and travels east to visit industrial Zurich. 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. In Spains beautiful capital city, Madrid, Michael visits the 1930s art deco Telefonica Building and discovers what happened there during the civil war. Arriving at the ornately tiled Sao Bento station in Porto, he finds out about the birth of Britain's long alliance with the Portuguese. 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. 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.