Cabourg takes visitors on board the legendary Orient Express

A symbol of luxury travel and the Belle Époque, the Orient-Express is at the heart of a major exhibition presented at the Villa du Temps retrouvé, in Cabourg, until November 11, 2026. Through works of art, period objects and a spectacular reconstruction of a dining car, the museum retraces the birth of this train which has become a true European legend.

An immersion into the golden age of rail travel

The journey retraces the beginnings of the Orient Express, launched in 1883 by the Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers, who drew inspiration from the luxurious American trains he had seen during a trip to the United States. His ambition: to connect Paris to Constantinople, offering a unique experience where comfort, gastronomy, and refinement were as important as the journey itself.

The exhibition brings this adventure to life through a selection of trunks, posters, tableware, vases, and other iconic objects. A reconstruction of a dining car also allows visitors to immerse themselves in the refined atmosphere that made the train famous. As Roma Lambert, director of the Villa du Temps retrouvé and curator of the exhibition, explains, the train was much more than a means of transport: it constituted "a stage for European high society," where some travelers would simply hop on for lunch or dinner.

Between technical prowess and fascination with the Orient

The exhibition also reminds us that the creation of this international railway line represented an immense diplomatic and technical challenge in a Europe beset by the political tensions of the late 19th century. Despite borders, rivalries, and logistical difficulties, the Orient Express became a link between the major European capitals, until the First World War interrupted this initial period of its history.

The exhibition also explores the allure Constantinople held for Western travelers. Fueled by Orientalism, this destination sparked an imagination blending exoticism and discovery. The exhibition also evokes the prestigious Pera Palace, a hotel inaugurated in 1892 by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits to accommodate train passengers, including Sarah Bernhardt, Mata Hari, Greta Garbo, and Agatha Christie. It's a journey into an era when travel was as much about dreams as it was about adventure.