Fact Sheet
Description:
The fifth season of Rick Steves' Europe debuts thirteen fresh shows. In this exciting new series, Rick slurps escargot in Burgundy, ventures to the desolate side of a Greek isle, and strives to appreciate the Danish art of explosive aquavit and pungent herring. He'll dive deep into European culture to witness the pride of Barcelonan parents teaching their children to speak Catalan before Español, feel the passion of a French archaeologist taking us into the "Sistine Chapel of the prehistoric world," and be tenderized by a burly Turkish masseuse in Istanbul. The series concludes with a thrilling and captivating finale — Rick's personal journey of discovery in Iran.
Individual Program Descriptions
#501: Burgundy: Profoundly French
Burgundy is a calm and cultivated corner of France, where fine living is intimately tied to nature and traditions run strong. We'll slow down to enjoy the region's edible, drinkable, scenic, and floatable delights. We'll travel on a canal barge, visit a medieval hospice and a modern monastery, build a barrel, appreciate fine Burgundy wine, slurp escargot, and eat very, very well. If you're looking for quintessential French culture, you'll find it in Burgundy.
#502: France's Dordogne
The Dordogne River Valley — with its dramatic castles, evocative cave paintings, and prized cuisine — is an unforgettable blend of man-made and natural beauty. We'll take an idyllic canoe ride, and then visit a goose farm and savor the foie gras. We'll also wander through a lamp-lit castle, enjoy a country market, and visit the Sistine Chapel of the prehistoric world. Then we head south to Albi, home of Toulouse Lautrec, and the imposing fortress city of Carcassonne.
#503: Barcelona and Catalunya
The creative spirit of Spain's Catalunya — the land of Picasso, Gaudi, and Salvador Dali — is on a roll. We'll get caught up in the festivity of Barcelona, enjoying the vibrant street scenes, tasty tapas, and pedestrian-friendly Gothic Quarter. Then we'll take a scenic side trip to mountaintop Montserrat, and finish with an artist's pilgrimage along the Costa Brava to Salvador Dali country. In seaside Cadaques, we'll visit Dali's home, and in nearby Figures, we'll experience his playfully surreal mausoleum/museum.
#504: Little Europe: Five Micro-Countries
Don't blink as we blitz through Europe's tiniest countries: Vatican City, the world's smallest country, comes with the planet's biggest church. The fairytale princedom of Monaco lures visitors with its fancy casino and glamorous views. Italy's last independent hill town of San Marino still looks formidable, as does the castle-guarded principality of Liechtenstein. And tiny Andorra entertains shoppers and hikers alike, surrounded by the rugged beauty of the Pyrenees.
#505: Great Swiss Cities
In this episode, we'll focus on an often-overlooked side of Switzerland — Luzern, Bern, Zurich, and Lausanne. Enjoying the country's urban charms, we'll get some exercise, from ringing a very big bell to doing a little river rafting — without the raft. We'll also enjoy a variety of eye-opening art, from Chagall and Klee to pieces created by inmates of an asylum. Then we'll ponder a few Swiss innovations, from their open-minded drug policies to their hush-hush underground arsenals. And it's all before a backdrop of Switzerland's stunning natural beauty.
#506: Vienna and the Danube
For centuries, Vienna was the crown jewel of the rich and powerful Habsburg Empire. A century after that empire's fall, the Viennese appreciate their imperial legacy as a cultural wellspring — and an excuse to live in style. We'll take in the city's wealth of elegant gardens, great art and fine music. Then we'll explore the city's surroundings, with a trip along the romantic Danube River and a hike through the breathtakingly Baroque Melk Abbey.
#507: The Czech Republic Beyond Prague
Few travelers venture beyond Prague to experience the Czech Republic's many cultural riches and offbeat delights. We'll get you started with a whirlwind of Art Nouveau, local pub music, stinky cheese-tasting, river-rafting, and peat-bathing in places like Olomouc, Moravsky Krumlov, Trebon, and Konopiste. We'll also tour a remarkable memorial to the Holocaust in Terezen, and the charming castle town of Cesky Krumlov.
#508: Athens and Side Trips
The thriving capital of Greece sprawls out from the foot of its magnificent Acropolis. We'll tour the must-sees of ancient Athens: the Parthenon, Agora, and amazing National Archaeological Museum. We'll take the fast-paced pulse of the modern city, but waste no time getting to my favorite side-trip destinations: the ruins of the mystical oracle at Delphi and a fast boat to the romantic, traffic-free Isle of Hydra.
#509: Greece's Peloponnese
Island getaways are fun, but the real heart of Greece is found in the Peloponnese Peninsula. After enjoying the charming old port town of Nafplio, we'll time-trip through the ruins of Olympia, take center stage at the remarkably preserved theater at Epidauros, and explore the ancient capital of Mycenae. Then we'll wander off the beaten path along the rustic, rough-and-tumble Mani Peninsula, relax in the idyllic beach town of Kardymli, and marvel at Greece's Rock of Gibraltar: the fortress town of Monemvasia.
#510: Copenhagen
Denmark's capital is the most fun-loving in Scandinavia. As we get to know Copenhagen, we'll discover reminders of its Viking history and see reflections today of its proudly independent ways. We'll stroll down Europe's first great pedestrian boulevard, ogle crown jewels in the palace treasury, and take a bike ride through an inspirational hippie squatter community, finishing at Copenhagen's full-time carnival, Tivoli Gardens.
#511: Denmark beyond Copenhagen
Using Copenhagen as a springboard, we'll visit the very best of Denmark. Aarhus welcomes us with its ruddy affluence, charming open-air museum, and eerily well-preserved, ancient bog man. Roskilde impresses visitors with its royal burial church and the best Viking ship museum anywhere. And the delightfully quaint Isle of Aerø comes with half-timbered cottages, ships in bottles, and cobbled alleyways that remind us of the world of Hans Christian Andersen.
#512: Istanbul
Where Europe comes face to face with Asia, we'll explore the fascinating, multilayered city of Istanbul. We'll lose our way in the Grand Bazaar and munch our way through the famously fragrant Spice Market. We'll follow the fall of the ancient capital of Byzantium and the rise of Islam at the city's ancient wall, and wander among the treasures of the Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace. To escape the city bustle, we'll cruise the churning waters of the Bosphorus, make friends over backgammon, and try a traditional Turkish bath.
#513: Iran, Yesterday and Today
As he's done with previous programs on Israel, Egypt, and Eastern Turkey, Rick takes us beyond Europe to a place that's rich with history...and mystery. Visiting Tehran, Shiraz, Persepolis, and a small village, we'll get a rare present-day look at of some of civilization's most important historical sites, and a sense of Iran's 21st-century culture. From architecture and art to faith and everyday living, "Iran, Yesterday and Today" offers a rare, candid, and humanizing look at a great if perplexing nation.
Program Information:
Offer Reference: Summer 2008
Release Date: October 4, 2008
Broadcast Rights: Unlimited Use/3 Years
Operations:
Available Formats:
Standard SD Letterboxed and HDTV
NOLA Codes:
RKSE 501-513 SD-Base Revision: 001
RKSE 501-513 HD-Base Revision: 001
SD Feeds:
RKSE 501-513 SD-Base Revision: 001
Saturdays, October 4, 2008 - December 20, 2008; February 21, 2009
2000-2030ET /511
Bicycle tape format: BetaSP
HD Feeds:
RKSE 401-411 HD-Base Revision: 001
/DT2A feeds TBA; details will be posted by APT.
Bicycle tape not available.
Audio/Video:
Stereo/Closed Captioned
Available Version(s):
SD-Base
HD-Base
Digital Production; Aspect Ratio – 16:9
Nola Code:
RKSE 501-513 SD-Base Revision: 001
RKSE 501-513 HD-Base Revision: 001
Satellite Feed Avail:
SD-Base: Saturdays, October 4, 2008 - December 20, 2008; Saturday, February 21, 2009
2000-2030ET /511
HD-Base: /DT2A feeds TBA; details will be posted by APT Distribution
Tape Liby. Avail:
BetaSP (SD-Base only )
On-Air Promos:
:30 promo is available
-----
Genre: Travel
NOLA: RKSE
Program Service: Exchange
Supplier: Oregon Public Broadcasting
Rights: Unlimited Use/3 Years, School Rerecord, Noncommercial Cable
Offered: Summer 2008
Contract: 10/4/2008-10/3/2011