Great Continental Railway Journeys

Michael Portillo travels from the chateaux of the Loire Valley to the heart of the Champagne region at Reims, beginning in the city of Orleans in north-central France. Here, he follows his Bradshaw's 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. Later, Michael takes a spin around the track at Le Mans in a French-built car, before making his way to the capital city of Paris. East of Paris, Michael finishes this leg of his journey in style with a tour of the cellars at Domaine Pommery in Reims