About Alimentarium
Available: Tuesday-Sunday, all year round.
Example travel costs
Lake Geneva Regional Pass: FREE
Montreux Riviera Card: FREE
Swiss Travel Pass: FREE
Half Fare Card: 6 Sfr from Montreux
Entrance payable locally: 13 Sfrs per adult, 4 Sfrs per child aged 6-15 years. FREE with the Swiss Travel Pass. 50% entry discount with the Riviera Card.
Over 150 years ago, Henri Nestlé perfected the milk condensation process and enabled Daniel Peter to produce the world's first milk chocolate. Their food company was formed in Vevey and remains headquartered here today.
The Alimentarium is a Nestlé Foundation and is an amazing museum dedicated solely to food! The permament exhibition is a fascinating, interactive journey through the agricultural, societal, environmental and biological elements of the what, why and how we eat. There are also temporary exhibitions, on themes such as Veganism, and naturally, plenty of opportunities to eat while you are here.
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Contact us to book your holiday
Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com
Highlights
The Exhibition
The permanent exhibition at the Alimentarium invites the visitor to think about the human body, the food we eat, and how it is bound up with society and the environment. With virtual and hands-on sensory experiments, interactive games and plenty of fascinating information, the exhibition is divided into 3 areas:
Food Sector - interactive screens immerse you in the idyllic countryside. Witness accelerated images of food growth and production, from development to packaging, with a focus on different systems across the world. You will have an insight into how food is manufactured, preserved and prepared, using both traditional and industrial processes. There is also a fun introduction to cooking with interactive games involving recipes and culinary techniques.
Society Sector - food also fulfils an essential social function and in this section, you will explore how communities and traditions shape our relationship with food. Explore food related cultural phenomena, as well as dining etiquette and food rituals and festivals from all over the world. There is a visitors' memory bank of special childhood foods and flavours, to which you are encouraged to add.
Body Sector - wander through giant neural pathways to discover how our five senses work. Hands on experiments show how senses can be misled and how where we have grown up influences our taste. Then ‘become’ an apple as it moves through the alimentary canal ... mashed and broken down by enzymes, discover the role food plays in the functioning and protection of our bodies. Younger visitors are invited to play in the augmented reality gaming area.
En guete!
The Alimentarium is passionate about food, so it would be a shame not to eat during your visit!
Restaurant - the Alimentarium's team of chefs create an ever changing but always delicious seasonal menu, featuring a dish of the day, chef's special, vegetarian meal and a children's choice.
Café - the Café has tables and armchairs and is the perfect place in which to relax. On offer is a range of drinks, seasonal treats and sweet and savoury snacks.
Terrasse - the al fresco tables of the Terrasse are surrounded by the Alimentarium's gardens and have views over the lake. From April to September, you can enjoy a refreshing drink here, or indulge in an ice cream treat.
Sunday Brunch - the Alimentarium's brunch is legendary! Taking place each Sunday 10.30-13.30, guests can relax in the Restaurant or on the Terrasse in fine weather and help themselves to the bountiful buffet created by local chefs using local ingredients. Children can also take part in helping to make the crêpes and waffles.
Alimentarium Gardens
The terraced gardens of the Alimentarium provide an idyllic spot for strolling, or relaxing with a drink as you gaze out over the quayside and the lake. The gardens also form part of the overall exhibition. Visitors can see many different aromatic
herbs, fruit, vegetables and cereals flourishing here in the mild climate, with the variety on show changing with the seasons throughout the year. The Alimentarium kitchens (serving the Café and the cookery workshops) make good use of the produce in their seasonal menus.
Cookery workshops
The Alimentarium chefs share their knowledge with a series of workshops throughout the year. Each of these focuses on techniques for tasting and creating, with a variety of themes such as local produce, condiments, seeds & pulses, and of course, chocolate. Workshops must be booked in advance.
Further attractions
The Fork - this famous sculpture in the waters of Lake Geneva, not far from the Charlie Chaplin statue, has become a symbol of Vevey. The Fork stands 8m tall and is crafted from stainless steel. It was originally erected in 1995 and remained in place for a year (to commemorate the Alimentarium's 10th anniversary). In 2007 it was brought back during an exhibition on cutlery, and proved so popular that the Canton of Vaud authorities agreed that it could stay permanently.
Gift shop - you may like to visit the gift shop while you are here - for themed souvenirs such as herb growing kits, local artisan teas and condiments, designer cooking utensils, cookery books and food-related games and toys for children.
Directions
The Alimentarium is easily reached on Quai Perdonnet, overlooking the lake.
If you are staying in Vevey or La Tour-de-Peilz, you can stroll to the museum, or take a quick bus ride. For those staying in Montreux and Lausanne, you can travel by bus, train or boat.
Request your holiday quotation
Call us on 0800 619 1200 or email us at info@swissholidayco.com