Museu da Fábrica do Chocolate

About the museum

The Museu da Fábrica do Chocolate is housed in the building of one of Portugal's oldest chocolate factories, which produced chocolate in Viana do Castelo for 90 years. In 2014 the building was restored and now combines a hotel, a museum, a chocolate shop, a chocotherapy office and an escape room.

The museum occupies the entire basement, about 500 m², divided into five spaces linked in a circuit. The visit traces the origin of cacao, the first civilisations that valued it (the Maya, Aztecs and Olmecs) and its arrival in Europe, in a 3D film about Hernán Cortés. There are interactive screens, information on the regions where the cacao tree grows, on the nutritional values of chocolate and on the living conditions of the producing communities, and a small chocolate factory where visitors interact with the machines and receive a chocolate at the end.

The museum is also used for study visits, with content on natural sciences, geography, history, technology and nutrition.

Highlights

• Interactive circuit in five rooms in the basement of the former factory
• 3D film on the arrival of cacao in Europe
• Small chocolate factory where visitors interact with the machines
• Chocolate offered at the end of the visit
• Study visits for schools

Permanent exhibition

• Museu Interativo da Fábrica do Chocolate – Circuit in five rooms on the origin of cacao and chocolate, with a 3D film, interactive screens and a small chocolate factory.

Founded

2014

Operated by

Fábrica do Chocolate

Admission & discounts

Prices for free visits: ages 13 to 64, €6.50; ages 4 to 12 and 65 or over, €5.50. Schools: free admission for one supervisor, teacher or assistant per 10 pupils.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The museum is in the basement. People with reduced mobility use a lift, which is accessed through the hotel entrance; other visitors use a flight of stairs. Guide dogs for blind visitors are admitted, but no other animals.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly
• Kids’ birthday parties

The circuit is interactive and ends with taking part in making a chocolate. Pushchairs are admitted. The building offers birthday parties for children.

Getting there & parking

School coaches must stop briefly on Avenida Afonso III, next to the Santander bank, at the start of Rua do Gontim, to let the pupils get off.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop
• Coat check

Chocolate shop in the building; bags and parcels are kept in the cloakroom.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit