Among all the great things to do during the 2025 version of the European Heritage Days, very special tours of the Orient Express are on the cards. On September 20 and 21, all day long, you’ll be able to climb aboard the legendary train and tour its 7 luxurious Art Deco carriages.
The legendary Orient Express soon open for tours
Every year in September, the Journées du Patrimoine (Heritage Days) offer a rare opportunity to discover places that are usually inaccessible. Châteaux, behind-the-scenes tours of monuments or unusual addresses: a whole myriad of unusual and secret activities are on offer for this very special weekend. And one of the highlights of this 2025 edition is the exceptional installation of the Orient Express!
On one of the tracks at Gare d’Austerlitz, you’ll find 7 vintage carriages, true witnesses to a golden age of rail travel. Four of them are listed as Monuments Historiques, including the luxurious Pullman carriages with their Art Deco design, emblems of Made in France elegance designed in the 1920s by renowned artists such as René Lalique.
The Orient-Express was launched in 1883 by the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits. Linking Paris to Constantinople, it quickly became the symbol of European-style luxury travel. Its sleeping cars and dining cars embodied a special kind of refinement. Over time, it established itself as a railway myth, immortalized in literature and film, from Agatha Christie to Sidney Lumet, and today remains one of the most legendary trains in history.
More than just an “exhibition”, this free guided tour will immerse visitors in the refinement of the era. A short-lived installation, this train will take visitors on a timeless journey, with its meticulous decoration, original furnishings and cosy atmosphere. Organized by the SNCF, this visit can be booked by registration only, from September 2.
📍Location: Gare d’Austerlitz
📆 Dates: September 20 and 21, 2025
💶 Price: free admission