Vevey: Museums, Photography and Regional Markets

Vevey can be explored through a wide range of themes: food and regional products, collections on art and local history, photography, and the winegrowing culture of Lavaux. When planning your stay, it helps to distinguish between permanent collections, temporary exhibitions and recurring events.

Food, Chocolate and Regional Products

The Alimentarium in Vevey is the world’s first museum dedicated to food and nutritional science. It explores food and nutrition from historical, scientific and cultural perspectives. Guided culinary tours with tastings complement the theme; check the current programme before your trip.

The market on the Grande Place also offers a way to discover regional products: producers and locals gather there on Tuesdays and Saturdays to browse a wide selection. Check the current market schedule before your visit. A themed tour also explores the history of chocolate: industrial chocolate production began in Vevey, where milk chocolate was invented. The tour takes in sites connected to the history of the industry’s pioneers; booking details may change.

Art Collections and Local History

At the Musée Jenisch Vevey, the collections range from the Cabinet cantonal des estampes to the drawing collection. The Cabinet comprises more than 40,000 works dating from the Renaissance to the present day; the museum also houses more than 11,000 drawings. The Pavillon de l’estampe presents three temporary exhibitions a year. If you’re planning to see a particular exhibition, consult the current exhibition calendar.

The Musée historique de Vevey displays part of its collections on the second floor of the Château, a 16th-century manor house. Across eight exhibition rooms, it presents regional themes and special collections. The permanent exhibition includes archaeology, as well as medieval objects and manuscripts. A museum visit can therefore bring together different perspectives on regional history, while keeping the Musée Jenisch’s art and print collections distinct from the historical holdings of the Musée historique.

Photography and Temporary Exhibitions

The Musée suisse de l’appareil photographique is located on Lake Geneva at the Grande Place, in the heart of Vevey, ville d’Images. Its collection includes images and instruments, some of which you can operate yourself. The museum offers courses, workshops and other activities throughout the year. Check the current events calendar in advance.

L’Appartement – Espace Images Vevey is a permanent exhibition space for contemporary photographers in the heart of the CFF railway station. Exhibitions change, and admission is free; check the latest visitor information before your visit. The Biennale Images Vevey is a different event: every two years, it presents outdoor photography exhibitions in streets, parks and unusual locations around Vevey. This recurring event is free to visitors and lasts three weeks; individual editions may vary.

Winegrowing Culture and Guided Tours

The Fête des Vignerons has been held in Vevey since 1797, about five times per century. In a visitor area at the Confrérie des Vignerons, film excerpts offer a look at the Fêtes from the beginning of the 20th century onwards. The UNESCO World Heritage site of Lavaux is another part of the region’s winegrowing landscape, extending from Lutry to Vevey. Shaped by people since the 11th century, this cultural landscape includes 10,000 vineyard terraces.

If you’d like to learn about urban development, architecture, monuments and notable figures, the Vevey City Tour covers these topics on a public, two-hour guided city walk. Availability is seasonal; check the current schedule. Another perspective is offered by the themed tour «Vevey vue par des écrivains célèbres»: it visits places in Vevey where numerous writers lived or stayed, connecting them with excerpts from texts inspired by Vevey. Check the latest booking details in advance.

Getting There and Finding Your Way

Vevey is accessible by train, with rail connections to other places in Switzerland. The CGN landing stage Vevey-La Tour is a four-minute walk from the Alimentarium. The route follows the lakeshore towards Vevey. As routes and services may change, check the latest information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Saint-Légier-La Chiésaz, Chardonne, L'etivaz, La Tour-De-Peilz, Chardonne VD, Montreux, Blonay, Rougemont Vd.

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