ALIMENTARIUM

A fascinating museum not to be missed! You won't miss it: a giant fork, planted in the lake opposite, is an excellent landmark. Commissioned in 1995 to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Alimentarium, it is now the emblem of Vevey. The museum, meanwhile, is housed in the former Nestlé administrative headquarters, a handsome building dating from 1920.

To eat! A vital need. Yes, but what are the implications? What are the origins of our diet? This museum explores this broad field from every angle. A universe in itself, in perpetual mutation. The museum is well worth a visit for its excellent educational content. With interactive games for all ages, an immersive scenography presents each sector. It opens all the doors to the world of food. A complex world, very well presented and fascinating to discover.

"Eating, the essence of life". Brightly lit rooms cover the historical, social, geographical, cultural, scientific and environmental aspects of eating, from the origins of mankind to the present day. We take a journey to discover food practices, customs and rituals around the world. What do we eat? Where does our food come from, and how does it get to its final destination? We go back a long way before the fashionable trend of foodporn, when the dish is a mannequin, its photo an obsession, and the latter the subject of the cook's exasperation.

The museum is divided into three sections.

"Me and the outdoors. Out in nature! The first room, with its walls adorned with exuberant nature, presents the formation, development and packaging of basic foods. How are hops formed? What does the water buffalo bring? How does corn grow? What do we do with it? What's in pork? What are the different food systems across the globe? How has food been transported, processed, packaged and preserved around the world since the days of hunting and gathering? Maps of the world show how products are traded and transported from their countries of origin to our plates.

The "Me and others" section. When a meal becomes a social and cultural factor, a bond of conviviality and sociability, a social status, a ritual. When it is at the crossroads of multiple influences... This is how we discover culinary traditions through the ages. What did a middle-class or wealthy family eat? We also discover food practices according to family, social and geographical criteria. Around the world, there's a big difference between the force-fed Mauritanian girl - a plump woman is synonymous with beauty - and obesity problems in other developed countries. Food concepts that are poles apart, as shown by excerpts from competitions and Marco Ferreri's film La Grande Bouffe.

Where does the expression "setting the table" come from? In the old days, there were no dining rooms. Two planks were placed on trestles at mealtimes.

"Setting the table is sacred We learn a great deal about food taboos and the meaning of certain foods according to different religions, festivals and eating practices around the world. There's a big difference between the contents of a pantry and the preparation of a meal by a family in the USA or another in Laos. On the Western side, new food precepts are constantly evolving.

" What isour perception of food? Why do we eat? What impact does it have on our health?

Nothing could be more explicit than a tour of a life-size digestive tract. Just imagine! You're biting into an apple. What happens inside your body? Fascinating. You'll observe the journey, step by step, of the apple pieces from your mouth to their final transformation. You'll also learn why you may be prone to flatulence, among other things. Conclusion? Make the right food choices for good health!

The impact of a sugar cube: You eat a sweetness equivalent to the energy of a sugar cube... Go and pedal a little on a system designed for this purpose; you'll then find out how long you need to pedal to burn the relative calories, depending on your age and weight, of course. Nature and man are connected. Photos of roots being eaten are a reminder that nature is a garden of Eden, a natural supermarket for those who know how to recognize the right plants. However, according to Paracelsus, everything depends on the dose ingested, which can become poisonous. Is man an inveterate gatherer? The game room is an immersive space: as you play, you revive the knowledge you've acquired.

The museum website is a must-see! A rich monthly program of theme days,escape games, meetings, cooking classes (every day) and workshops for children and adults. An extraordinary dynamism, full of creative ideas!

Culinary workshops: throughout the year, the Alimentarium team also welcomes you for workshops to share know-how, good products and good humor. On the program: chocolate treats, beans, kings and frangipane, imminent departure for a paris-brest, Easter and chocolate delights.