Le Train Bleu

When does a journey begin?

The mental preparation and anticipation in the weeks before travelling is the first chapter of a new adventure, and reaches its climax when, ticket-in-hand, we are ready to board.

That moment, before departure, is celebrated by the grand stations of the nineteenth century, with large cast iron spans, ornate facades and lavish interiors. At Gare de Lyon in Paris, Le Train Bleu restaurant was designed to intensify that feeling of anticipation for those travelling to the Mediterranean coast. Large murals inspired by the landscapes of the Riviera create the illusion that the journey has already begun.

Today, Le Train Bleu is a destination in itself. We are guided to our table past a series of large arches flanked by expansive murals, framed in gilded stucco, and crowned by sculptures. The symmetry of the layout, accentuated by the bronze chandeliers, adds to the sense of ceremony.

And although the modern attire of the guests is a reminder that we are visitors in this living memory of the Belle Époque lifestyle, we are also passengers. We are on a journey back in time: to an era when travelling was as much a part of the experience as the destination. 

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