The Orient Express is being hailed as one of the most significant Art Deco exhibitions ever staged. Its inclusion celebrates architect Maxime d’Angeac’s remarkable talent for reimagining Art Deco for the 21st century.
Each carriage honours the spirit of Art Deco masters such as Ruhlmann, Dunand, and Lalique-Haviland, while seamlessly integrating contemporary craftsmanship, technology, and sustainability. Thirty master artisans, from glassmakers and cabinetmakers to embroiderers and upholsterers, have contributed to this revival, bringing the golden age of luxury travel vividly to life.
The story behind the train’s resurrection is as extraordinary as the design itself. After a decade-long search, Orient Express historian Arthur Mettetal turned to Google Maps and 3D satellite imagery to trace seventeen original 1920s carriages, long thought lost, abandoned on the Poland–Belarus border.
These historic carriages have now been painstakingly restored in France by some of the nation’s finest artisans, including Rinck, Ateliers Jouffre, and the Tapestry Manufacture of Burgundy. Morrison & Nelson marquetry and Lalique glasswork have been preserved, while interiors have been sensitively reimagined to accommodate contemporary travel comforts, from climate control to modern safety systems, without compromising the elegance of the period.
A Toast to Timeless Glamour
Stepping into the bar carriage, the grandeur of the Second Empire-inspired domes immediately draws your attention. Four elegant columns support the sweeping vaulted ceiling, while green-hued rosewood and marble finishes evoke a sense of timeless sophistication. Original Lalique “flower” lamps, recovered from the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express collection, punctuate the ceiling and cast a soft, ambient glow.
The space is carefully zoned to create intimate seating areas, encouraging conversation while offering vantage points to admire the passing landscapes through framed observation windows. Embroidered curtains and discreet support bars allow passengers to linger in style, standing or sitting while enjoying the view.
Dining and Culinary Experience
The dining car continues this dialogue between heritage and modernity. Mirrored ceilings intersect with gracefully arching lights, reflecting soft illumination throughout the carriage. Tables and chairs are upholstered in supple napa leather, while lamp shades reference original designs but house discreet LED lighting.
A modern culinary touch has been introduced with a glass-partitioned galley. Passengers can watch chefs at work, blending the spectacle of live cooking with the carriage’s period charm. Induction hobs and cleverly concealed refrigeration units ensure a seamless dining experience without disrupting the visual integrity of the Art Deco interiors. Private lounges preserve original marquetry panels, providing intimate spaces for quieter meals or social gatherings.
Travelling in Style
Sleeping compartments showcase a careful balance of form and function. Partitions combine fine wood and leather, echoing Suzanne Lalique’s “rail” motifs, while headboards feature intricate mother-of-pearl and bronze inlays. Original Lalique panels are installed in alcoves, creating elegant focal points.
During the day, compartments offer comfortable seating with sofas and settees, transforming by night into beds measuring two metres by 1.4 metres. Bathrooms feature marble fittings with sliding doors, maintaining the functionality of compact spaces while honouring Art Deco style.
The Presidential Suite
One carriage has been reimagined as the Presidential Suite, a 55-square-metre masterpiece accessed through its own private entrance. Designed as the ultimate expression of the train’s grandeur, the suite unfolds as a sequence of elegant spaces: a salon anchored by four sculptural columns, a serene bedroom, a marble-clad bathroom, and a private study that d’Angeac dubs the ‘Cabinet de l’Égoïste’.
A secondary sleeping compartment retains the original luxury layout of the Nostalgie-Istanbul-Orient-Express, preserving its timeless sense of intimacy and refinement. Throughout, bespoke furnishings, generous ceiling heights and expanded windows create an atmosphere of light and openness rare in railway design. The palette which consists of warm woods, polished bronze and soft textiles, feels unmistakably Art Deco yet entirely contemporary.
A New Chapter in an Iconic Journey
This unveiling marks a defining moment for Orient Express, now under the stewardship of Accor since 2022. Building on the success of La Dolce Vita Orient Express and La Minerva Hotel in Rome, the brand is entering a new era of curated travel, with Orient Express Venice set to open in April 2026 and the Corinthian sailing yacht to follow that June. Together, these ventures form an extraordinary trilogy of hotels, trains and yachts that redefines what luxury travel can be.