Great Continental Railway Journeys Catch up, Series 9: 11. Sopron to Keleti on BBC 2

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 11. Sopron to Keleti

Michael Portillo begins his Hungarian adventure in the far north west of the country in the town of Sopron. He learns how a picnic for European unity on the Austrian border attracted East Germans fleeing for the west, just months before the fall of the Berlin Wall.\n\nIn nearby Nagycenk, Michael drops in at the village fire station. He discovers how the country’s national fire service was started by the son of local nobleman and famous statesman Count István Széchenyi.\n\nOn arriving in the elegant capital city Budapest, on the mighty Danube River, Michael visits the exquisitely decorated Keleti station, opened in 1884. He finishes the evening with a drink at the New York Cafe, one of the most beautiful in the world.

Source: BBC 2

Most recent episodes of Great Continental Railway Journeys

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 12. Budapest

Exploring the capital city by tram, Michael Portillo travels to the extraordinary open-air museum of Memento Park in the suburbs. He discovers how a collection of imposing Sovie ...

27-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 11. Sopron To Keleti

Michael Portillo begins his Hungarian adventure in the far north west of the country in the town of Sopron. He learns how a picnic for European unity on the Austrian border attr ...

27-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 7. Brussels To Ghent

Michael Portillo’s Belgian rail journey continues in the Dutch speaking region of Flanders.\n\nIn Antwerp, he discovers the city's historic multibillion-pound diamond indu ...

26-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 6. St Pancras To Brussels

Michael boards the Eurostar at London’s St Pancras International, bound for the Belgian capital, Brussels.\n\nIn the city centre’s sumptuous Theatre Royal, he learns ...

25-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 5. Vivario To Corte

Michael Portillo’s Mediterranean railway adventure reaches its finale in Corsica as he boards one of Europe’s most dramatic railways, which winds through the island& ...

22-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 4. Ajaccio To Vizzavona

Michael Portillo’s railway journey through the islands of Sardinia and Corsica sees him leave Sardinia and arrive into Corsica, the most mountainous island in the Mediterr ...

21-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 3. Nuoro To Macomer

Michael Portillo continues his Sardinian railway adventure, arriving in Mamoiada to investigate the town’s extraordinary pagan traditions. In a menacing mask, black sheeps ...

20-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 2. Mandas To Laconi

Michael Portillo’s railway tour of Sardinia heads inland towards the island's dramatic mountain landscapes, which he discovers were frequented by DH Lawrence, who is rever ...

19-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 9: 1. Cagliari To Porto Flavia

Michael Portillo embarks on a stunning railway adventure through the western Mediterranean islands of Sardinia and Corsica, beginning in Sardinia’s capital, Cagliari.\n\nM ...

19-05-2026

BBC 2

All episodes

Great Continental Railway Journeys

Series 8: 20. Lisieux To Giverny

In the apple orchards of the Calvados region, Michael Portillo discovers how the classic digestif has been distilled since 1865 at the Pierre Huet estate. Over a selection of vi ...

26-09-2025

BBC 2

All episodes