Great Continental Railway Journeys

Leaving London behind, armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael follows the most popular route of the Edwardian traveller through France. His first stop is Paris where he absorbs the atmosphere of La Belle Epoque, he then travels south to the Cote D'Azur, learns why the area attracted the rich and artistic alike and samples the Edwardian high life before ending his journey at the gaming tables in glamorous Monte Carlo.

Steered by his 1913 railway guide, on this journey Michael explores the once-great empire of Austria-Hungary, domain of the famous Habsburg monarchs. 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. From there he travels to Salzburg, before heading to the magnificent scenery of the Salzkammergut region to visit the emperor's Austrian summer house at Bad Ischl, where in 1914 European history changed course forever.

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. Led by his 1913 railway guide, he then heads west via the picturesque Harz Mountains to the Industrial Ruhr Valley to learn how imperial Germany was war ready. 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.

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. He begins in the truly international city of Basel and travels east to visit industrial Zurich. 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. Michael's journey ends with a spectacular ascent by train to Europe's highest station, perched atop Switzerland's dramatic Jungfraujoch mountain.

Using his 1913 railway guide, Michael experiences the dazzling cities of the pre-war Low Countries and tastes the delicacies of Brussels. He then travels 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. He'll end his epic journey in the forest of Compiègne, to hear how, after four years of conflict, the Armistice was finally signed in a railway carriage.

Armed with his 1913 railway guide, Michael Portillo returns to his native Spain to discover what the intrepid tourists of the Belle Époque experienced on their travels through the fading Spanish empire. 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. Striking south to historic Córdoba, Michael dances with an unusual partner and enjoys all the fun of the feria. Heading further into Andalusia, Michael arrives in the city he has made his Spanish home, Seville, where in the city’s tobacco factory he learns about a gypsy girl, named Carmen. 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