Art
The Orient Express: a train, which makes us dream
Who has not heard of the Orient Express! Many say that if they could only travel aboard one train in their lifetime it would be that train.
Orient Express wagon restaurant, voiture Anatolie – copyright Veronique Gray
The Orient Express, which was the idea of the Belgian founder of the Companie international des wagons-lits, Georges Nagelmackers, took its first voyage on October 4th 1883. It used to take 4 days to go from Paris to Istanbul. From there one could take the Taunus Express to travel to the Middle East. The popular novelist, Agatha Christie often travelled on the train to go meet her husband, the archaeologist Max Mallowan, to Bagdad.
Agatha Christie’s books, Orient Express exhibition, Paris – copyright Veronique Gray
There is a magnificent exhibition in Paris at the Arab World Institute. It is a joint venture with the SNCF. Since beginning of April and until August 31st, it gives the visitor the opportunity to get to know the fascinating luxury train a bit better.
in the orient express, Paris exhibition – copyright Veronique Gray
In a video, the commissioner of the exhibition, Claude Mollard, says that the “golden age” for the Orient Express was between 1918 and 1938. He explains how the exhibition is “interactive and how the traveller is at the same time a vistor and an actor.
voyages au moyen orient from Pierre Loti – copyright Veronique GRAY
The tour starts outside where you meet your tour guide. You will go inside three original locomotives, type Pullman, the Flèche d’Or, the wagon-lits and the 1929 Train Bleu with its old piano. There is one additional locomotive, a restaurant in the voiture restaurant Anatolie, where the top chef, Yannick Alléno, is preparing gourmet dinners with an oriental flair. Inside the wagon-lits you can see where Agatha spent her honeymoon with her husband or where the scene of the1963 James Bond film “From Russia with Love”, was shot. The train had many personalities on board like Napoleon III, the king of Belgium Leopold II, the exotic dancer Mata Hari, the spy Baden Powell or the Franco/American dancer Josephine Baker.
Eau minerale Vals, orient express exhibition – copyright Veronique Gray
You can observe the bloody scene of the film “Murder on the Orient Express” (1974) with the popular detective Hercule Poirot. The movie was based on Agatha’s book written in 1934. On the tables in the train bleu lay some amazing historical objects, books or newspapers like Le Figaro, Daily Mail or La Stampa. You can marvel at the art deco, the Lalique glass and lamps from René Prou and at some passengers belongings, like card games, a typewriter, a rosary,clothing like Agatha’s beautiful black fur coat and some bottles of wine and water.
table in the Train Bleu, Orient Express exhibition in Paris – copyright Veronique Gray
Inside of the Institut du Monde Arabe, where you will need about 40 minutes to complete the tour, you can learn more about the train on two floors via maps about the Ottoman Empire or the Orient, posters, films, postcards and also enjoy some beautiful paintings. You can read how the steam engine actually worked.
ORIENT EXPRESS Poster – copyright Veronique Gray
The exhibition costs 10.50 euros for adults. It is free for children under 16. It is possible to reserve your time online. It is opened daily except Mondays.
Poster at the Orient Express exhibition – copyright Veronique Gray
In addition there is a café with Oriental delicacies and mint tea and a small shop. Upstairs you can have a look in the big bookstore caring books about the Arabian world and much more.
Arab World Institute in Paris – copyright Veronique GRAY
Where is it? 1 rue des Fossés Saint Bernard, Paris V
More info: visit the website
