Bäckereimuseum Benken

About the museum

The master baker and pastry chef Paul Wick began collecting the equipment and molds of his trade during his apprenticeship in the 1960s. After becoming self-employed in Rapperswil in 1971, the collection continued to grow. After a new building in 1990, it had an area of about 190 square meters instead of roughly 50. When the Wick bakery in Rapperswil passed to their son Mike Wick, Marianne and Paul Wick wanted to continue running the ever-growing museum.

Because the family's roots are in Benken, the conversion of the former cheese dairy and pigsty into a bakery museum with a restaurant and a large garden terrace began in 2004 in the family home. It opened in 2005. Paul Wick built many of the lovingly crafted details himself. Today the family runs the house as the Bretzelstube restaurant with an attached museum.

The main exhibition shows equipment, baking molds and machines from the baking, pastry and confectionery trades, many of them from St. Gallen businesses that had to close. These include molds for Easter bunnies, Biber and Tirggel, as well as a large collection of tin Easter eggs. In addition there are three roadworthy vintage cars from 1899 to 1924, around a hundred model cars, an old smithy and works by the Benken artistic metalworker Louis Thum. On the second floor the exhibition “Grossmutters Zeiten” (“Grandmother's Times”) shows how people in the region used to live.

Highlights

• Thousands of devices, molds and machines of the baking, pastry and confectionery trades
• Molds for Easter bunnies, Biber and Tirggel, and tin Easter eggs
• Three roadworthy vintage cars from 1899 to 1924 and around 100 model cars
• Living-room exhibition “Grossmutters Zeiten” with parlor (Stube), kitchen and laundry room
• Bretzelstube restaurant with garden terrace and an animal enclosure on the premises

Permanent exhibitions

• Bäckerei-, Konditorei- und Confiserie-Museum – Equipment, molds and machines of the baking, pastry and confectionery trades, many from closed St. Gallen businesses, plus a large collection of tin Easter eggs.
• Grossmutters Zeiten – On the second floor the exhibition shows how people in the region used to live, with a bedroom, parlor (Stube), kitchen, laundry room and toilet.
• Oldtimer, Modellautos und Kunstschlosserei – Three roadworthy vintage cars from 1899 to 1924, around a hundred model cars, a toy car collection and works by the Benken artistic metalworker Louis Thum.

Founded

2005

Operated by

Familie Wick (Bäckerei Wick / Restaurant Bretzelstube)

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Playground / play area

According to the operator, the garden has goats, rabbits, fish, turtles, a witch's house and a large playground.

Getting there & parking

Tour coaches are welcome; stops and refreshments by advance registration.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

Bretzelstube restaurant on the premises, with a garden terrace. Groups can pre-order coffee and gipfeli, snacks, Wähen (tarts) or a set menu.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Banquets for weddings, birthdays, family celebrations and Leidmahle (funeral meals), as well as meetings and gatherings in the restaurant. The museum is also used for banquets.

Plan your visit