Brussels, Barcelona, Cologne, York, Budapest and many other cities have places dedicated to one of the world's most beloved desserts - chocolate. This article will focus on the chocolate museum in Prague, but first, a little history.
Chocolate: homeland and main types
The homeland of the popular sweets are Africa and South America. It is here that cocoa beans grow, from which, after roasting, grinding and further processing, chocolate is made. This is a rather high-calorie treat (about 530-550 kcal per 100 grams).
The Aztecs and Mayans were the first to use chocolate. They made a bitter intoxicating drink from cocoa beans.
There are three main types of chocolate: dark (bitter), white and milk.
White is considered the sweetest. It contains vanillin, milk powder and no cocoa at all. That is why the color of this chocolate is white. Cocoa butter is used to make it.
Milk chocolate containscream and milk, which somewhat reduces the benefits of cocoa products. Milk chocolate has the highest fat content.
Bitter chocolate is considered the he althiest. It has the least amount of sugar, and there are no other additives at all. Dark chocolate can improve blood circulation, help lower blood pressure, protect blood vessels from free radicals.
For more information about this beloved dessert, visit the Chocolate Museum in Prague.
The path of sweets to Europe
This path was long and winding, it was overgrown with legends and myths.
The first European to try this product was Christopher Columbus. It was at the very beginning of the 16th century. He didn't like chocolate, so he didn't do much advertising for them by taking these miracle beans with him.
Almost two decades later, in 1519, General Cortes and his conquistadors brought chocolate to Europe and introduced the Spanish court to a new dessert. Loved in the form of a drink with a lot of added sugar.
In 1786, the sweet came to Russia, the Venezuelan ambassador brought from America and presented this delicacy to Empress Catherine the Great.
For quite a long time chocolate in the form of a hot drink could only be afforded by rich people: nobles and merchants. The reason for this was the high cost of the product, which was delivered from America through the ocean and European ports.
But in 1850 the situation changed when the German Theodor Einem, deciding to go into business, opened in Moscowsmall chocolate factory. Subsequently, on the basis of this enterprise, the well-known factory "Red October" was founded. The first chocolate produced at this factory bore the name of its creator "Einem" and had very expensive packaging.
In the second half of the 19th century, cafes and restaurants began to open in many cities of Russia, where you could try a hot chocolate drink.
Chocolate Museum in Prague Choco-Story
The official opening of this delicious museum took place in September 2008 near the center of the Czech capital.
Right at the entrance to this unusual establishment, guests are greeted with a bar of chocolate or a hot cup of this fragrant drink.
The museum has three main halls:
- In the first, the guide tells visitors where and how cocoa beans were discovered. He will tell how the ancient tribes began to prepare a drink from them, seasoning it with hot pepper, and how cocoa crossed the ocean and appeared in Europe.
- Second hall introduces the secrets and recipes of making chocolate. Here you can find out what silk chocolate is and why its recipe cost fabulous money. Also in this hall they talk about production methods, show the tools that are used in the work. On display are sugar hammers and axes, molds for molding sweet bars and antique special utensils.
- The third hall demonstrates a solid collection of packaging, wrappers and labels from chocolate. Our "Alenka" is also here.
In one of the rooms, a film is being broadcast in English, which tells about the process of creating chocolate: from growing cocoa beans to producing the hard bar we are used to.
Expositions of the Chocolate Museum are also represented by paintings by Vladomir Cech. They decorate almost all the walls of Choco-Story inside. They owe their uniqueness to the fact that they are written with real chocolate, and their author is called the Prague Picasso for his originality.
Not just a spectator
In addition to getting acquainted with the exhibits, guests can get a master class from the best confectioners and cook on their own, for example, a cup of hot aromatic drink or a bar of traditional Belgian chocolate. Here you can taste all this.
For art lovers, here is a lesson on creating a picture using real chocolate paints - an original opportunity to show your creativity.
Besides all this, the museum in Prague offers a game for children. At the entrance, little sweet teeth are given eight cards, which during the tour must be placed in the correct order on a piece of paper. A sweet prize awaits those who complete the task.
According to reviews, the Chocolate Museum in Prague is an interesting place for the whole family. The tours are very informative, and the chocolate is incredibly delicious. The museum is recommended to visit. True, the exposition is small, the visitors complain.
Viva Praha chocolate shop
It is located at the exit from the museum. The products are not cheap, but exclusive and of high quality.
You can buy sweet souvenirs for family and friends here. In addition to a large selection of Belgian chocolates in various forms, there are caramel, nougat and lollipops. Everything is packed in gift boxes and bags.
History of the opening of the museum
The museum in Bruges (Belgium) became the first cultural institution in the world to collect sweet exhibits under its roof. And this is no accident. Belgium has always been called the sweetest country, and local confectioners were famous for their ability to prepare the best chocolate in the world. The idea of creating a sweet museum appeared after another festival was held here, where chocolate masterpieces were exhibited. It was difficult to try all the products during the holiday, so we decided to establish a museum on this site and move sweet crafts there after the event closed.
This cultural institution is located in an old castle of the 17th century. When you enter the museum, you plunge into the world of the ancient Mayan and Aztec tribes - they were the first to learn how to extract cocoa and make a drink based on water and spices from it.
The museum has a tasting room and a gift shop where you can watch the work of famous confectioners.
Choco-Story in the Czech Republic is one of the branches of the Belgian Chocolate Museum. There are also branches in France and Mexico.
Sweet Museum in Prague is located in a building that has its own solid history. In the 14th century, there were several houses on this site. In 1514, during the reconstruction, they were combined into one building. In 1945 the architectur althe building, which now houses the museum, survived a severe fire and was on the verge of destruction. But fortunately, it was restored.
The facade of the building is decorated with a small white stucco molding in the form of a peacock. This bird figurine is nothing more than a house number. So about 500 years ago in Prague the numbering of buildings was indicated. The white peacock also survived the fire, but survived and is now a decorative element and part of history.
Opening hours
The Chocolate Museum in Prague is open daily from 9.30 to 19.00.
Schedule changes depending on the season. Therefore, it is better to clarify it in advance on the official website.
Ticket price
- Adult ticket - 390 CZK
- Preferential - 340 CZK. This category includes students, children aged 6 to 15, and retirees.
- Children under 6 have free admission.
Ticket price includes unlimited sweet tasting.
For participants of group tours (from 10 people and more) discounts are provided. It is advisable to order this service in advance by phone or on the official website of the museum. There you can also discuss the opportunity to attend interesting practical seminars at a reduced price, which Choco-Story offers its guests.
Prague Card
One more secret. If you decide, upon arriving in Prague, not only to visit the chocolate museum, but also to see other equally interesting places, then you should purchase a Prague Guest Tourist Card - Prague Card.
Shemakes it possible to receive benefits or even see many sights of the Czech capital for free, take advantage of a free sightseeing tour of the city, and when visiting the museum itself, presenting this card, you can get a 30% discount.
How to get there? Museum Address
How to get to the chocolate museum? You can take the metro (green line). Stop - Staroměstská station. Then we cross the Old Town Square on foot.
Trams No. 1, 2, 17, 18 and 93 and bus No. 194 also go there. Stop - Staroměstská. Then, also on foot along Kaprova street through the square, you need to go straight to the building with the Choco-Story sign.
Museum address: Celetná 557/10, Old Place, Prague 1, Czech Republic.
You can use a car, but please note that due to the location of the building in the historic city center, parking directly next to it is prohibited.
