Brief reminder of Part 1 (without mistake ) :
Georges Nagelmackers, a young Belgian engineer, created luxurious trains for a wealthy clientele. He wanted to link the capitals of Europe with those of the East. The inaugural trip of the Orient Express took place on 4th October 1883 and his project was a great success.
In the 1920s, to give an Art Deco feeling, the company called on the master glasmaker René Lalique and the decorator René Prou to improve the comfort and refinement of the cars with glass panels and marquetery of precious woods. Now, luxurie is always present : the interior is upholtered and the beds impeccably made up. Bathrobes marked with the company ' s seal await travellers. The finest materials are used : silk sheets, marble bathrooms, crystal goblets and silver cutlery. Twenty cabins are transformed into lounges during the day. The gastronomie offered in the restaurant cars is of high quality.
The Orient Express transported all sorts of people : from heads of state to monarchs, artists and famuos writers.
With the end of the Second World War and the developement of air travel, the use of luxury trains slowly declined, except for the Blue Train.
However, to this day, two trains, with fuly renovated carriages, still run :
- The Venice Simplon Orient-Express
- The Pullman Orient Express.
The Orient Express remains a legende that continues to run in Europe.
It represents the symbole of an unusual journey with sumptuous services. |
