Great Continental Railway Journeys

  

Snapshots

Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael Portillo travels from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. Michael discovers a surprise 19th-century tea plantation in the West Georgian countryside. Also in HD. [S,AD]Sat, Feb 4, 6:50 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael celebrates Midsummer in Marielund and learns to decorate a Dala horse in Mora. Also in HD. [S,AD]Thu, May 5, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael travels through Austria and the Czech Republic, exploring a dark era in history. Also in HD. [S,AD]Tue, May 3, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysIn Palermo, Michael takes in the art and architecture of the futurists and feasts on a Sicilian speciality - spaghetti and sardines. Also in HD. [S,AD]Thu, Apr 21, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael hears how new rail lines transported spectators to the Nazi Olympic Games of 1936. Also in HD. [S,AD]Wed, Apr 20, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBeginning in historic Orleans, Michael follows his Bradshaw's guide to the magnificent stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, which tell the story of Joan of Arc. Also in HD. [S,AD]Tue, Apr 19, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael Portillo sports a modern edition of his Bradshaw's Handbook as he heads for Spain. Also in HD. [S,AD]Mon, Apr 18, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys9/10. Michael Portillo embarks on a thousand-mile rail journey from Stockholm to the Arctic. Also in HD. [S,AD]Fri, Jun 25, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys8/10. Michael continues his railway journey from Sicily's capital, Palermo, through the ancient town of Agrigento and the port of Siracusa to Europe's largest volcano, Mount Etna. Also in HD. [S,AD]Wed, Jun 23, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys6/10. Michael continues his journey through Germany, guided by his 1936 Bradshaw's Guide. Also in HD. [S,AD]Mon, Jun 21, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys5/10. Michael embarks on a rail journey through Germany, steered by his 1936 Bradshaw's guide. Also in HD. [S,AD]Fri, Jun 18, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys4/10. Michael travels across Paris, heading from Montparnasse to the cellars of Champagne. Also in HD. [S,AD]Thu, Jun 17, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys3/10. Michael travels from the chateaux of the Loire Valley to the heart of Champagne at Reims. Also in HD. [S,AD]Wed, Jun 16, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys2/10. Michael continues his journey through Spain, travelling north through Zaragoza to France. Also in HD. [S,AD]Tue, Jun 15, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys1/10. Michael Portillo visits the ancient kingdom of Spain, the land of his father, who was forced into exile by the fascist regime of General Francisco Franco. Also in HD. [S,AD]Mon, Jun 14, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysIn Palermo, Michael takes in the art and architecture of the futurists and feasts on a Sicilian speciality - spaghetti and sardines. Also in HD. [S,AD]Sat, Aug 29, 6:30 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael hears how new rail lines transported spectators to the Nazi Olympic Games of 1936. Also in HD. [S,AD]Sat, Aug 15, 6:30 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBeginning in historic Orleans, Michael follows his Bradshaw's guide to the magnificent stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, which tell the story of Joan of Arc. Also in HD. [S,AD]Sat, Aug 8, 6:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBeginning in historic Orleans, Michael follows his Bradshaw's guide to the magnificent stained-glass windows of the Cathedral of Sainte-Croix, which tell the story of Joan of Arc. Also in HD. [S,AD]Wed, Aug 5, 8:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael Portillo sports a modern edition of his Bradshaw's Handbook as he heads for Spain. Also in HD. [S,AD]Sat, Aug 1, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael Portillo sports a modern edition of his Bradshaw's Handbook as he heads for Spain. Also in HD. [S,AD]Wed, Jul 29, 8:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysArmed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo travels the Habsburg imperial line from Vienna across the awe-inspiring Semmering Pass. [S]Fri, Mar 22, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysMichael arrives in Istanbul, takes a boat trip on the Bosphorus, samples Turkish delight, and crosses from Europe to Asia on the Marmaray metro line. [S]Thu, Mar 21, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBradshaw's Guide in hand, Michael Portillo travels through the Balkans, following the route of the historic Orient Express. His journey begins in Sofia. [S]Wed, Mar 20, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys10/10. Michael Portillo journeys from the heart of France to the Mediterranean coast. In Marseilles, he joins a pilot boat leading a supertanker to its berth. [S]Tue, Mar 19, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys9/10. Michael Portillo follows a route recommended in Bradshaw's guide, journeying from the heart of France to the Mediterranean coast. [S]Mon, Mar 18, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys8/10. Michael Portillo retraces journeys in Spain and Portugal from the 1913 guide. He explores Lisbon from the Santa Justa lift to the harbour at Belem. [S]Fri, Mar 15, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys7/10. Michael Portillo retraces journeys in Spain and Portugal from the 1913 guide. He meets pilgrims on the trail to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. [S]Thu, Mar 14, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys4/10. Michael Portillo takes the train down the spine of Italy from Rome to Sicily, visiting Naples, the island of Capri and the old hilltop town of Taormina. [S]Mon, Mar 11, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys3/10. Michael Portillo takes the train down the spine of Italy from Rome to Sicily, visiting Naples, the island of Capri and the old hilltop town of Taormina. [S]Fri, Mar 8, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys2/10. Michael Portillo travels through Russia, visiting the onion domes and icons of Tula and Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, before exploring St Petersburg. [S]Thu, Mar 7, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway Journeys1/10. Michael Portillo travels through Russia, visiting the onion domes and icons of Tula and Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre, before exploring St Petersburg. [S]Wed, Mar 6, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBatumi to Baku Part 2: Michael Portillo takes a trip along the 120-mile Georgian Military Road, built by the colonising Russian army in the early nineteenth century. Also in HD. [S]Thu, May 17, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBatumi to Baku Part 1: Michael Portillo travels one of the most stunning rail routes of the world, the historic Trans-Caucasus Railway, from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. Also in HD. [S]Wed, May 16, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysKiev to Odessa Part 2: Michael Portillo continues his journey through the borderland where Europe meets Asia and fulfils a lifelong ambition to visit the Black sea port of Odessa. Also in HD. [S]Tue, May 15, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysKiev to Odessa Part 1: Michael Portillo journeys from the grasslands of the Steppe to the shores of the Black Sea. Michael explores Kiev, described as the 'Jerusalem of Russia'. Also in HD. [S]Mon, May 14, 6:30 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBatumi to Baku: Michael Portillo travels from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. Michael discovers a surprise 19th-century tea plantation in the West Georgian countryside. Also in HD. [AD,S,SL]Fri, Apr 27, 8:00 amBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysBatumi to Baku: Michael Portillo travels from the Black Sea to the Caspian Sea. Michael discovers a surprise 19th-century tea plantation in the West Georgian countryside. Also in HD. [AD,S]Thu, Mar 15, 8:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysKiev to Odessa: Michael Portillo visits Kiev, described in his guide as the Jerusalem of Russia. At the St Sophia Cathedral he discovers how Ukraine adopted Orthodox Christianity. Also in HD. [AD,S]Thu, Mar 8, 8:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysJourneying from Riga to Tampere, Michael Portillo discovers how Latvia, Estonia and Finland, when part of the Russian Tsar's vast empire, retained their own national identities. Also in HD. [S]Mon, Jun 12, 7:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysGenoa to Brenner Pass Part 2: Michael Portillo continues his journey. At La Spezia Michael discovers how Italy's imperial ambitions put her at the forefront of modern aerial warfare. Also in HD. [S]Sat, Jun 10, 6:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysGenoa to Brenner Pass Part 1: Michael Portillo journeys from the Italian Riviera to the Austrian Alps. Michael is ambushed by singers of the city's trallalero. Also in HD. [S]Fri, Jun 9, 7:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysZermatt to Geneva Part 2: Michael Portillo completes his journey through Switzerland. He is caught up in a war zone with the Red Cross and tries watchmaking, James Bond style. Also in HD. [S]Thu, Jun 8, 7:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysZermatt to Geneva Part 1: Michael Portillo journeys from the Swiss Alps to the shores of Lake Geneva. He marvels at the Matterhorn and is saved from an 'avalanche' by a puppy. Also in HD. [S]Wed, Jun 7, 7:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysTransylvania to the Black Sea Part 2: Michael travels through Romania, experiencing the nation's musical soul in Bucharest and loading cargo from a 100-foot crane in Constanta. Also in HD. [S]Tue, Jun 6, 7:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysTransylvania to the Black Sea Part 1: Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide in hand, Michael Portillo ventures through Romania. He meets a bloodsucking vampire in Transylvania. Also in HD. [S]Mon, Jun 5, 7:00 pmBBC TWO30 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysRotterdam to Utrecht: Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw's Continental Railway Guide, Michael Portillo discovers the magnificent art and architecture of the Dutch Golden Age. Also in HD. [AD,S]Fri, Mar 31, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysRiga to Tampere: Armed with his 1913 Bradshaw's Guide, Michael Portillo ventures to the northernmost reaches of Europe, where he braves the freezing temperatures of the Baltic Sea. Also in HD. [AD,S]Thu, Mar 30, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysGenoa to the Brenner Pass: Michael Portillo embarks on an action-packed adventure from the Italian Riviera to the Austrian Alps with his Bradshaw's 1913 Guidebook in hand. Also in HD. [AD,S]Wed, Mar 29, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins
Great Continental Railway JourneysTangier to Marrakech: Michael Portillo takes in the sights, smells and tastes of north Africa as he travels from the Mediterranean port of Tangier to the Berber city of Marrakech. Also in HD. [AD,S]Fri, Mar 24, 7:00 pmBBC TWO60 mins