Michael Palin's New Europe

Watch Michael Palin's New Europe

  • 2007
  • 1 Season
  • 7.5  (756)

Michael Palin's New Europe is a fantastic BBC One television series where the actor and adventurer Michael Palin travels an impressive 9,000 miles of Eastern Europe. With his iconic, personable style, Palin provides a unique insight into different cultures, political situations, and historical events. The eight-part series first aired in 2007 and is widely regarded as one of the most engaging and informative travel shows to date.

Palin's travel across Eastern Europe offers a unique perspective on the vast region, which has been largely neglected by Western television screens. The show covers a range of different countries and regions, including Poland, Hungary, the Baltics, Ukraine, and Bulgaria, amongst others.

In each episode, Palin explores the nation or region he is in, with a focus on the people, the local culture, traditions, and history. He interacts with locals, learns about their customs, and takes part in their daily activities, providing an insider's perspective on the region's culture and history. The show also features interviews with experts, academics, and historians, giving viewers an in-depth understanding of Eastern Europe's complex and fascinating history.

One of the most significant aspects of Michael Palin's New Europe is the way it sheds light on lesser-known parts of the continent. Palin explores many off-the-beaten-track locations, which are seldom seen by Western tourists. This includes remote villages, towns, and countryside, as well as urban cities, such as Warsaw and Prague. In doing so, the show reveals the diversity of the region, with each country having its own unique customs, food, drink, and history.

Throughout the series, Palin's expertise and passion for Eastern Europe are clear. His infectious enthusiasm for the region is evident in his interactions with locals, who provide him with an endless stream of knowledge and insight. This passion, coupled with his characteristic wit and humour, make for an incredibly engaging show that leaves viewers feeling thoroughly entertained and informed.

Furthermore, the show's cinematography adds another dimension to the series. The striking landscapes, fantastic architecture, and picturesque locations all captured in breathtaking HD, make the series a visual treat. Alongside stunning drone shots, the series often uses time-lapse photography and drone footage, providing viewers with a unique and immersive experience of the region.

In summary, Michael Palin's New Europe is a must-watch if you have an interest in travel, history, culture, or Eastern Europe. The series recounts the fascinating stories of each country or region Palin visits, told through the lens of a skilled storyteller and adventurer. The show presents an engaging and informative portrayal of the region, showcasing its history, culture, and people. Whether you're a seasoned traveler or curious beginner, this insightful and entertaining series is sure to captivate and inspire you.

Michael Palin's New Europe
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Seasons
Journey's End
7. Journey's End
October 28, 2007
High in the Tatra mountains of Slovakia, Michael skins a pig and learns how to make sausages. Countries visited include Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany.
From Pole to Pole
6. From Pole to Pole
October 21, 2007
Michael makes a personal pilgrimage to Auschwitz. Arriving in Gdansk via canal, Michael meets former electrician Lech Walesa, who formed Solidarity, Poland's first independent trade union, which led to the demise of communism in that country.
Baltic Summer
5. Baltic Summer
October 14, 2007
Michael travels from Tallinn in the north, through Latvia, to Lithuania in the south, sailing into the Baltic from the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, formerly East Prussia. He visits a pyramid house and samples the medicinal properties of leeches.
Danube to Dnieper
4. Danube to Dnieper
October 7, 2007
Michael travels by road, rail and river through Hungary and the Ukraine, ending in the Black Sea resort of Yalta. Along the way, he visits Budapest's "House of Terror" and a National Park in Hortobagy.
Wild East
3. Wild East
September 30, 2007
Michael travels from Trans-Dniester, a breakaway state from the Republic of Moldova, to the Vaser Valley in Romania, where he joins 80 lumberjacks as they board a wood-fired steam train. Countries visited include Trans-Dniester and Romania.
Eastern Delight
2. Eastern Delight
September 23, 2007
Michael makes a remarkable visit to Göreme, where the rocks have been carved to form homes and some of the most remarkable churches of the early Christian era. Countries visited include Macedonia, Bulgaria and Turkey.
War and Peace
1. War and Peace
September 16, 2007
In Medjugoree, Michael encounters a visionary who first started having visitations from the Virgin Mary 25 years ago. Countries visited include Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Serbia and Albania.
Description
  • Premiere Date
    September 16, 2007
  • IMDB Rating
    7.5  (756)