Orient Express Inaugural Run

The Compagnie Internationale des Wagons-Lits launched the Orient Express on August 26, 1883, with its inaugural journey from Paris to Giurgiu, Romania, connecting onward by ferry and train to Constantinople. Founded by Belgian entrepreneur Georges Nagelmackers, the train featured opulent sleeping cars, dining facilities, and even a library. It symbolized the golden age of rail travel, carrying diplomats, royalty, and spies through the Balkans amid rising European tensions. The route overcame political borders and engineering feats like the Simplon Tunnel later. Its cultural impact endures in literature and film, highlighting rail's role in globalization before air travel dominated.