The Grand Tour isn’t only the name of a TV show about cars – it is a very important part of the history of travel and tourism (and the inspiration for the show’s name). This article explains what the Grand Tour was, why it was so important to tourism and where the most popular Grand Tour destinations were.
What is the Grand Tour?
The Grand Tour was the name of a traditional trip through Europe, undertaken mainly by wealthy young men as they came of age. It was mostly the British nobility and landed gentry who went on a Grand Tour, but it later extended to other wealthy Europeans and Americans.
According to The National Trust, the term ‘Grand Tour’ was coined by the Catholic priest and travel writer Richard Lassels (c.1603-68), who used it in his influential guidebook The Voyage of Italy (published 1670) to describe young lords travelling abroad to learn about art, architecture and antiquity.
The Grand Tour has roots in the 16th century, but it flourished from the late 17th century until the mid-19th century, and was at its most popular during the 18th century. It and was said to be the way to end a boy’s education – making them a man. Often, these adolescent boys would be accompanied by tutors who would make the scenes in front of them come to life. It was a hands-on form of education, similar to a field trip today – but much longer, typically lasting anywhere from several months to several years.
This rite of passage was a very important point in the timeline of the history of tourism – but why?
Why is the Grand Tour important to tourism?
The Grand Tour is important to the overall history of tourism because it represented travel for educational and recreational purposes rather than, for example, trade or military reasons. It contributed greatly to the cultural, social, architectural, gastronomic, political and artistic evolution of the home countries of these travellers – especially when, as time went on, it became accessible to not only gentry but artists, collectors, designers and more. These people would take influence from the things they saw abroad. Buildings in Britain would follow architectural styles the designer had seen in Italy, for example.
It is also important because it was during this period that the word ‘tourist’ first came into use in English, in the late 18th century. Grand Tourists visited new destinations and brought back stories, souvenirs, art and ideas from their trips. In the 19th century, the arrival of railways and steamships made travel cheaper and faster, and continental tours began to be taken by the growing middle classes – most famously through the organised tours of Thomas Cook, whose first tour of continental Europe took place in 1855. In this way, the Grand Tour laid the foundations for modern international tourism.
The Grand Tour paved the way for the ongoing popularity of museums – as it was clear that people who travelled to different countries often had an interest in learning about the history and culture. It proved there was a need for lodgings for people visiting from out of town; it encouraged the growth of restaurants so visitors could try the local cuisines and so on. Essentially, it was the start of what we now know as tourism because it had such a large and visible influence.
Grand Tour destinations
There was no set itinerary for a Grand Tour. It was up to the individual, and often influenced by their interests or finances. However, most people followed the same vague outline at least. Paris and Rome were firm favourites along with much of the rest of Italy, but a typical itinerary from Britain might have looked something like the one outlined below.
One would start their trip properly in Dover, on the south coast of England. This remains a popular transport hub for people travelling out of the country. From here, the Grand Tourist would head by boat across the channel to Ostend in Belgium or either Calais or Le Havre in France depending on their preference. Here, the tourist and their tutor (and servants, if they had any) would decide on the next move.
Often this would be to purchase a coach to transport them from place to place. This would generally be sold on again when it was time to get back on another boat – although some travellers would dismantle theirs and take it with them on their trip.
The Grand Tour- Paris
The first major stop on anyone’s Grand Tour was Paris. The capital of France and the city of love and romance, as well as baked goods, beautiful artwork and breathtaking views, Paris was an obvious choice. Grand Tourists would often hire a French speaking guide to accompany them throughout the entirety of the trip, because French was the dominant language of the European elite at the time. Paris was an ideal place to hire one.
Paris held a world of opportunities, too. Fencing tutorials, dance lessons, French language tutorships, riding practice and so much more. On top of this was the sophistication of the French high society, which would help to polish the traveller’s manners for his eventual return to England.
The Grand Tour- France onwards
After getting to know Paris, one would make the journey across to Switzerland to visit either Lausanne or Geneva. This would be only a short stop, however, in order to prepare for an often-difficult journey across the Alps. The really wealthy Grand Tourists would be carried across by their servants, in sedan chairs, but for most the crossing was a difficult undertaking.
Awaiting them on the other side of the Alps, of course, was Italy. This is typically where Grand Tourists would spend the most time, visiting different cities and generally exploring over the course of quite a few months. Turin and Milan would be early stops, followed by an extensive stay in Florence. Home to a large Anglo-Italian community, Florence was an excellent part of a Grand Tour and one which allowed for a lot of fun and socialising. From here there would be shorter trips to Pisa, Padua, Bologna and Venice – the latter being a high point for many.
But this didn’t conclude the Italian part of a Grand Tour at all. Venice gave way to Rome – particularly for the study of the ancient ruins here as well as the artwork of the Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque time periods. From Rome some of the more curious travellers went to Naples, where there was a big music scene, and, after excavations began at Herculaneum in 1738 and Pompeii in 1748, to see the newly uncovered Roman ruins. Later still, some of the most adventurous Grand Tourists headed to Sicily to see even more archaeological sites, Greece for the sunshine and culture, and Malta for its history. For the most part, however, Naples or Rome were the usual end to an Italian adventure.
The Grand Tour- Heading north
From Italy, most Grand Tourists would head back across the Alps to parts of Europe which were more dominated by the Germanic language. This included Vienna, Innsbruck, Dresden, Potsdam and Berlin – all beautiful cities with distinctive architecture and distinctive cultures. Some would even study at the universities in Heidelberg or Munich to round off their trip. Finally were flying visits to Holland or Flanders, before travelling back across the channel and returning to England full of the warm wonders of European travel and education.
This route closely resembles a modern tour itinerary, which is another reason why the Grand Tour is so important to tourism – it was the blueprint for many itineraries travellers and tourists still use today.
The Grand Tour in the media
There are few pieces of media which actually depict someone going off on a Grand Tour – but we can see references to it, and influence from it, in many media stories. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, in fact, was conceived in 1816 at the Villa Diodati near Lake Geneva, during Shelley’s travels in Europe, and its protagonist, Victor Frankenstein, travels widely across the continent.
There are various non-fiction books which make great reference to the Grand Tour, such as Francis Bacon’s Of Travel – a guide which is still relevant today – and some books which were more of a hybrid between fiction and non-fiction. These include Mark Twain’s The Innocents Abroad and Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s Italian Journey.
We can’t forget, of course, the TV show which takes its name from this early tourist phenomenon. The Grand Tour is a British motoring TV series, which ran on Amazon Prime Video from 2016 to 2024, featuring Richard Hammond, James May and Jeremy Clarkson. It centred around car reviews and timed laps, motoring challenges and races, studio segments, and celebrity guests – with the ‘studio’ being a large portable tent. They filmed in different locations across the globe, hence the name. In a BBC article before the show was first launched, Clarkson said that the name brought to mind the tradition of Grand Tours, and reflected how the show would be filmed in different countries.
The Grand Tour: FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions about the Grand Tour.
What was the Grand Tour?
The Grand Tour was a long educational trip around Europe, taken mainly by wealthy young British men from the 17th to the 19th centuries, to complete their education by learning about art, architecture, history and culture.
When did the Grand Tour take place?
The Grand Tour has roots in the 16th century, but it flourished from the late 17th century to the mid-19th century and was at its peak in the 18th century.
Where did people go on the Grand Tour?
A typical Grand Tour began in Dover and continued through Paris, across the Alps to Italy – especially Turin, Florence, Venice, Rome and Naples – before returning via Germany, Austria and the Low Countries.
Why is the Grand Tour important in the history of tourism?
The Grand Tour was one of the first forms of travel for education and pleasure rather than trade, war or pilgrimage. It gave rise to the word ‘tourist’ and created demand for guidebooks, guides and accommodation, laying the foundations of modern tourism.
How long did a Grand Tour last?
A Grand Tour could last anywhere from several months to several years, depending on the traveller’s wealth, interests and plans.
The Grand Tour: Further reading
If you found this article on the Grand Tour useful, these articles may also be of interest:
- History of transportation
- The history of Thomas Cook
- The history of the hotel industry | Understanding tourism
- The history of tourism
- What Is The History Of Aviation?
