Every time you think the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, cannot get any better, an extraordinary new addition comes along to prove you wrong. Come March 2025, L’Observatoire, an exclusive sleeper carriage conceived and designed over three years by the French artist known simply as JR, will debut as a mesmerizing, mobile masterpiece for train enthusiasts to revel in. Combining unparalleled opulence with artistic ingenuity, it is undeniably the most expensive train carriage in the world.
True to its moniker as an “artwork in motion,” L’Observatoire offers an exquisite private bedroom with a double bed, an ensuite bathroom featuring a freestanding bathtub, and an array of luxurious touches. The amenities include a spacious wardrobe, a reclining daybed, and a lounge area that seamlessly transforms into a private dining room. Adding to the grandeur is the train’s most commodious area, a library stocked with over 1,000 books curated by French publisher Gallimard. As if that weren’t enough, a secret tearoom with a fireplace awaits to captivate guests.
Sounds enchanting, doesn’t it? Enhancing the allure are oculi, circular skylights, adorned in the ceiling of the bedroom and tearoom, allowing passengers to gaze at the skies as they travel. “With L’Observatoire, people can enter my imaginary world,” JR shared in a press release. “I envisioned the carriage primarily through shapes, with curved corners and round windows, so guests have little places to daydream. Guests can now stay in an artist’s private space while aboard the most iconic train in the world, experiencing this creative crossroads during a journey is very special and hasn’t been seen in this way before.”
Priced at $100,000 per night, this masterpiece of masterful interiors features bespoke marquetry, stained glass, photography, and specially curated gifts from JR. It’s a testament to JR’s passion for trains, a love he’s nurtured since childhood. His dedication shines through in every detail, from the striking black-and-white photographs of eyes adorning the train’s exterior to the intricate hand-painted scalloped shapes crafted by artisans near Livorno, Italy. L’Observatoire retains the train’s iconic Art Deco design, now enhanced with 9,800 scalloped details and a breathtaking stained glass light installation designed by Michael Mayer.
A train that only looks good isn’t enough anymore, and thankfully, L’Observatoire delivers more than just aesthetics. Each carriage is equipped with an enviable sound system featuring a curated collection of music tracks, handpicked by JR and available on vinyl.
Guests who book L’Observatoire will enjoy 24-hour dedicated cabin steward service, offering premium wines and spirits to accompany their private in-suite dining experience as they take in Europe’s finest landscapes.
It is indeed a refreshing take on the train that first operated in 1883 and was known as the “train of kings and spies” and hosted notable figures like Ernest Hemingway, Agatha Christie, and Alfred Hitchcock. Bookings for L’Observatoire, part of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, A Belmond Train, are now open, with the carriage set to make its grand debut in March 2025.
