Les Rencontres d’Arles festival hosts an exhibition on the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits

The Newrest Group, which has owned the La Compagnie des Wagons-Lits brand since 2010 and is the beneficiary of the company’s long-standing rail expertise, has supported the photo exhibition that traces the history and traditional rail know-how of the CWL.

A photo exhibition inviting you to immerse yourself in the world of rail travel

From 1 July to 22 September 2024 in Arles, you can discover an exceptional photo exhibition devoted to the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, which created the Orient-Express and other luxury trains. The exhibition, organised as part of the famous Rencontres d’Arles photo festival by the Orient Express Endowment Fund, traces the history of this company, which transported travellers from all over the world for over a century, and inspired many artists, writers and film-makers. You can admire old and contemporary photographs, posters and objects that bear witness to the splendour and dreams of rail travel.

A book to take you further

Arthur Mettetal, author and historian, has published a book with Textuel entitled “Wagons-bar. Une petite histoire du ferroviaire”. This book is an invitation to discover the art of living on board the trains of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits, which revolutionised travel by creating mobile restaurants where travellers could enjoy refined dishes prepared by renowned chefs. The author, Arthur Mettetal, traces the history of the railway meal, from the first sandwiches served in station buffets to the gourmet menus created for the Orient-Express and its successors. “In more ways than one, eating on board a train is a revolution in the making”, writes the author. He shares with us the anecdotes, personal accounts and trade secrets of these bar-cars, which were places of conviviality, diplomacy and seduction.

Through the images and texts of the Compagnie des Wagons-Lits, Newrest is the heir to these legendary skills and professions on board these means of transport.