Musée du Blé et du Pain

About the museum

The idea for the museum goes back to the first Fête du Blé et du Pain in 1978: the enthusiasts wanted to use the proceeds of the festival for a bread and grain museum that would honour farmers, millers and bakers, collect the memories of older people and preserve old tools. At first there was neither a building nor a collection. When the Panchaud family wanted to sell their farmhouse of 1790 in the middle of Échallens on the Place de l’Hôtel de Ville in 1981, it was clear that the museum would find its home in the Gros-de-Vaud, one of Switzerland's granaries.

The purchase and the necessary renovation were financed by a mortgage loan, donations and bread sales; the supporting association was founded in 1982. The roof structure was renewed, the old walls were kept, and the former kitchen with its large chimney and the old bread oven were restored. The Maison du Blé et du Pain opened in May 1988, and the official inauguration followed on 16 April 1989, when farmers' delegations from all cantons symbolically delivered their grain.

Over the years a didactic tour with 20 stations and a children's film (2006), two further exhibition areas on the first floor on the modern mill and Vaudois costumes (2007) and a smartphone audio guide (2014) were added. The four floors tell the story of grain and bread with the three trades of farmer, miller and baker as the common thread; the costume section shows Vaudois costumes from across the canton as a reference.

Highlights

• Ferme Panchaud of 1790 in the centre of Échallens
• The journey from grain to bread across four floors
• Restored kitchen with large chimney and old bread oven
• Vaudois costumes from all regions with figures by Gerry Embleton
• Audio guide via app in French, German and English

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung „Du blé au pain“ – Across four floors the journey from grain to bread is shown through the trades of farmer, miller and baker, complemented by the modern mill and Vaudois costumes.

Founded

1988

Operated by

Association pour la Maison du Blé et du Pain

Admission & discounts

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

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

Playful children's trail with the mascot Ti’Grain. The workshop "La main dans l’gluten" for ages 6 and over and children's birthday parties (8 to 12 children) are offered but currently suspended.

Getting there & parking

By car via the A1 Lausanne–Yverdon, exit La Sarraz/Échallens, then via Oulens, Éclagnens and Goumoëns-la-Ville to Échallens.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Restaurant

The house contains the bakery and the tea room "Fournil de Cérès" of the Maison du Blé et du Pain (separate business with its own opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 8:30–17:00, Sunday 8:00–16:30).

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 100 guests.

The Salle des Moissons on the first floor (20–70 seats for meals, 90 for conferences, 100 for an apéro; reachable by lift or stairs) is rented out by the tea room; from CHF 150 per half day, minimum consumption CHF 300.

Plan your visit