The Orient-Express Exhibition in Paris

PARIS - Jack Lang, former - Minister of Culture and President of the Arab World Institute - and Guillaume Pepy, President of the SNCF (French railway network) joined forces to launch together "The Orient-Express Exhibition". This event has the purpose to mark the legendary line’s 130th anniversary!

The Orient-Express was created by Georges Nagelmackers, who wanted to create a luxury train that could travel among several countries in Europe, from Paris to Istanbul.

After its launch in 1883, the Orient-Express became a legendary line and even became an art of travel.

The curator of the exhibition is Claude Mollard.

It is a two-part exhibition: first part consists in a locomotive and three exceptional original Orient-Express carriages displayed outside the Institute’s forecourt, while the second part extends the cinematographic theme in its presentation of the objects and the various types of document.

The exhibition continues in the Arab World Institute. There, visitors can view various objects and archive documents, posters, films and photographs, some of which are being displayed in immense presentation ‘trunks’ that are metaphors for travel and focus on certain specific themes.

The Orient-Express became world-famous due to various novels and films.

Visitors are able to see what it was like to live and travel on the train: the compartments are covered in a comfy plush and decorated with fine marquetry and polished brass.

The second part physically present on the forecourt and esplanade, the train has been symbolized in this itinerary by a series of model trains, which no doubt are of interest to the younger visitors.