Alimentarium

About the museum

The Alimentarium was founded in 1980 as a foundation by Nestlé S.A. and Nestlé Suisse S.A. with the aim of running a museum on human nutrition in Vevey. It opened on 21 June 1985 and is considered the first museum in the world devoted entirely to food.

It is housed in an administrative building that the Vevey architect Adolphe Burnat built on the lakeshore for the Nestlé group between 1918 and 1920. After the offices moved out, the building was converted for the museum. For its tenth anniversary an eight-metre-high stainless steel fork was placed on the lakeside promenade; after being removed for a time, it now stands there permanently.

On the occasion of the company’s 150th anniversary, the museum was comprehensively renovated in 2016 and extended with an annex and a garden of useful plants. The building is classified as a cultural property of national significance.

The current permanent exhibition, “SYSTEMA ALIMENTARIUM”, deals with the global food system through video installations, reportage photography, contemporary art and around 500 objects from the museum’s own collection. It is complemented by a children’s area, a teaching kitchen and a vegetable garden.

Highlights

• “SYSTEMA ALIMENTARIUM” exhibition on the global food system
• Around 500 collection objects, videos, photographs and artworks
• Vegetable garden with over 300 edible plants on the lakeshore
• Junior area with a children’s kitchen and over 25 games
• Cooking workshops and children’s birthday parties in the museum kitchen

Permanent exhibitions

• SYSTEMA ALIMENTARIUM – Towards a Great Food Revolution? – The exhibition shows the global food system and its consequences for health and the environment, with videos, reportage photos, artworks and around 500 objects from the collection.
• Gemüsegarten – In the municipal garden by the lake grow over 300 edible plants, which serve as an open-air exhibition and for tours and workshops.

Founded

1985

Operated by

Fondation Alimentarium

Director

Boris Wastiau

Admission & discounts

Further discounts according to the website: Montreux Riviera Card 50 per cent; Passeport Loisirs (one paying person can bring one more person free, maximum 4 people); Étoile Filante free on presentation of the ticket; Carte Culture 50 per cent for adults; 15 per cent discount in combination with a CGN boat trip.

Accessibility

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

All exhibition floors are accessible by lift; the accessible entrance is signposted. Accessible toilets on the 2nd floor, stairs with handrails. Wheelchair, walker and folding chairs available on request at reception. At the ticket desk there are aids for visually impaired visitors (reading glasses, magnifiers, lamps, binoculars) and for guests with cognitive or neurodivergent needs (ear protection, anti-stress balls, weighted blankets, hourglass). Sensory tours and cooking workshops for groups with disabilities on request.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Junior area with a child-friendly kitchen and over 25 games about food and nutrition (by reservation). Discovery tours for 4- to 6-year-olds, family ticket, cooking workshops and birthday parties for 6- to 12-year-olds; some of the themed tours are recommended from age 6. Offers mostly in French.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A9 (from Geneva/Valais) or A12 (from Bern) to the Vevey exit, then follow the signs for “Vevey centre”.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café WØFF on the ground floor (lake view) and bookshop with gift items in partnership with Payot; lockers on the ground floor (luggage up to 55 × 35 × 20 cm).

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit