Imhoff-Stollwerck Chocolate Museum, Cologne

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&CBThe Imhof Schokoladen museum was opened by Hans Imhof in 1993. It is situated in the quarter of Altstadt - Sud on the Rheinauhafen peninsula. The museum exibits show of the entire history of chocolate, from its beginning with the Olmecs, Maya and Aztecs to the contemporary methods of the production.
The special attraction of the museum is the 3 metre high chokolate fountain, with the possibility to taste the fresh chokolate.
Thre world of chokolate is open monday to friday from 10am to 6pm, weekends and holidays from 11am to 7pm. The admission for single visitor is 7€.
The Museum is situated at the Rhine promenade upstream on the rotating bridge.

"Food of the Gods" - and a museum for its addicts. Life is all about chocolate.

History, botanical background, myths and stories and legends, production of the raw material and chocolate easter bunnies, bars, and candy. Machines making miracles, and a heavenly chocolate fountain - and yes, you may have a taste! A whole room is dedicated to hot chocolate - how to make it (with chilli!) and which china to drink it from. Old posters and advertising, boxes and wrappings, a cafe and a ( very expensive) shop. I loved the little rainforest with cocoa plants and of course all the stories about Mexico, the Maya, the Aztecs and Olmecs.

Try not to visit on a rainy cold public holiday. It's too full... families and small childs freaking out ;-) First sign of addiction!

We found the museum very interesting and worth a visit.
There is information written in several languages telling you about chocolate production, uses and history.
There are also a lot of exhibits to look at but unfortunately any information on the displays is only written in German.

You proceed to an area showing the different machines used to produce chocolate bars. In this area is the chocolate fountain. Here a lady was dipping wafer biscuits in melted chocolate and handing them to us to sample. I love audience participation, especially when it involves chocolate! Mick went back 4 times!

There is also a shop where you can buy lots of different chocolates and a restaurant that looked as if it served a decent lunch.
It is also a good spot to get a very good view of the Rhine.

I’ve put a few extra pictures in the Cologne travelogue

The Cologne chocolate museum stands on a little headland just a short walk up the Rhine from the main waterfront area. It's a pleasant diversion - especially when you get in for free. It was a free entry day the day that we were there. Lovely.

Inside is a mini production line, and you can see the whole process of chocolate making from beans to finished products. You even get a little tasting at one point, and the smell of chocolate is simply wonderful (unless you don't like it of course).

This place was right on our doorstep, as we were staying in the NH hotel by the river. Firstly, it wasn't exactly 'charlie and the chocolate factory' although some of the staff did look a bit like umpah-lumpahs.

Like many museums, it tries to be educational at the front...you'll view some history about how chocolate was discovered, when the first bars were eaten and other dry stastistics. The most important fact to learn there is that chocolate is a kind of fat mixed with sugar. That's why we love it. Fat and sugar are a damn good combination. We were yawning a tad when we moved on to the tropical garden bit - where it shows the environment for growing the beans. This is quite a hot, relaxing place...would be better in swimwear.

Other notable sections include the factory, where you see production and get to taste from a chocolate fountain (a very small taste). You also get to see some chocolate creations and moldings that are fairly interesting, but nothing spectacular. I was hoping for a chocolate T-rex... all I got was an easter bunny. After the tour, you end up in the shop where the chocolate is a bit expensive, but most people are so desperate by this point to eat some, they'll be elbowing old women and booting children out of their way for the last pack of Mozart balls.

We noticed one group of german girls there had some special trip going on. They were actually making chocolate which would be more fun I think. They were all dressed in brown and their leader was dressed up as the chocolate queen. I don't know if they worked there or if it was some weird hen party. Either way, I really wanted to be the chocolate king.

Best part of the place was the outside cafe seats, where you can face the river and have a beer and a cake. If someone can combine fat, sugar and beer successfully, it'd make a better food then chocolate.

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Opening hours: Tues. to Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat., Sun., holidays* 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; closed on Mondays. Admission prices:
adults 7.50 EUR; groups of 15 or more: 7.00 EUR; visitors entitled to reduction 5.00 EUR; groups of 15 or more: 4.50 EUR
One of Cologne's famous museums, the Imhoff-Schokoladenmuseum (Imhoff chocolate museum) was opened by Hans Imhoff on 31 Oktober 1993. Located on the Cologne quarter Altstadt-Süd on the Rheinau-peninsula. The Museum and exhibition demonstrates the whole history of chocolate, from its beginning with the Olmecs, The Maya, The Aztecs, up through the contemporary products and their production methods. The museum is run by the Schokoladenmuseum Köln GmbH and is partnered by the Swiss Chocolate producer Lindt & Sprüngli since the March of 2006. Prior to 2006 it was partnered with the Cologne chocolate producer Stollwerck, which was also shown by the former name of the museum (Imhoff-Stollwerck-Museum). Within the complex is a small tropiarium entered through temperature locks in a glass cube with 10 metres edge length showing cacao trees of the species Theobroma cacao and Theobroma grandiflorum. Also within are Several production machineries were built as miniatures, so that you can have a look at the production process of the small chocalate bars, which are given to the visitors at the entrance of the museum. A special attraction is the three metres high chocolate fountain, at which a woman dips wafers in the liquid chocolate and distributes them to the visitors. A museum lies upstairs with Olmec, Aztec, Mayan, and European artifacts from throughout the ages. Valuable collectables displayed are porcellain and silver bowls of the 18th and 19th century and pieces from pre-Columbian Mesoamerica for drinking chocolate. There are alsohistorical machines on display and hollow molds for casting chocolate figures. A small theater showing the comedical advertisements and films of chocolate through the ages in Europe. Also presented is a collection of historical chocolate vending machines and games for learning. A gift shop and tantalizing restaurant/cafe lie below and outside along the Rhine. For any chocolate fan, this is a must visit exhibit in Cologne. Rating: 5 stars out of 5.

A wonderful and unusual museum contributed by the Imhoff-Stollwerck chocolate company. You learn lots about the cocoa plant, the history of its cultivation and the production of chocolate products; there is even a working factory hall where you can see how chocolate St.Clauses or Easter Bunnies are made! There is also a higly interesting part on chocolate brands and advertising and even a botanical garden with cocoa plants. Be aware though that you are likely to lose lots of money in the museum shop where you can virtually shop till you drop .

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Sitting on a little island in the Rhine is the chocolate factory and museum. An hour tour around this building will give any chocolate lover much to think about as they follow the history of their favourite food from the jungle to the shop. Great fun for kids of all ages.

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iWhile on vacation many of us tend to visit museums and mostly those are art museums. Koln has a diferent idea of a museum - chocolate.
The museum shows the process of chocolate production, tells about history of chocolate, has a big gift store, and even offers a nice view on the river.
This place is a real paradise for kids, just imagine the amount of chocolate they get to taste on this tour. And even if you're like me, absolutely dislike chocolate, you'll still have a great time.