Great Continental Railway Journeys

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Factual: Travel

Michael Portillo retraces the journeys from George Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Guide.

Michael Portillo travels on the great train routes of Europe, as he retraces the journeys featured in George Bradshaw's 1913 Continental Railway Guide.

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Michael Portillo

Ben Rowland

Alison Kreps

John Comerford

Fremantle

Great Continental Railway Journeys: Series 7 (Shortened Versions): Episode 4

Episode 4

Series 7 (Shortened Versions)

BBC Two - Great Continental Railway Journeys, Series 7 (Shortened Versions), Episode 4

Michael travels across Paris, heading from Montparnasse to the cellars of Champagne.

Michael travels across Paris, learning about the avant-garde artists of Montparnasse, going backstage at the legendary Folies Bergere and heading east to explore the cellars of Champagne country.

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. In one of the area’s elegant cafes, Michael learns about dada and the avant garde during the Crazy Years after the First World War.

Backstage at the legendary Folies Bergere, Michael asks the 'enfant terrible' of fashion, Jean Paul Gaultier, about his homage to the black American dancer, Josephine Baker, and goes backstage to meet the stars of the show.

East of Paris, in Champagne country, Michael finishes his journey in style with a tour of the cellars at Domaine Pommery and a glass of fizz with the owner.

Great Continental Railway Journeys: Series 7 (Shortened Versions)

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Bradshaw's 1913 Guide in hand, Michael Portillo embarks on another rail journey.

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Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 7 (Shortened Versions)

Episode 4

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