Visit the Secrets of Chocolate museum in Strasbourg

My thoughts on the Chocolate Museum

Visit of the chocolate museum

Interesting videos

The museum is organized into several thematic sections. First, visitors learn about the origins of the raw materials used by Schaal—which has its own cocoa and hazelnut plantations—before moving on to the chocolate-making process and the various types of chocolate treats produced at the chocolate factory: molded chocolates, ganaches, pralines, sugared chocolate candies… This gives you a complete overview of the entire process, from Ecuador to Alsace!

I really liked the scenography, which is based on videos in which the employees speak. In addition to having allowed me to learn things, these videos really put a smile on my face as you can see that we are dealing with people who are passionate about their work!

The chocolate makers at work

During the visit, you can also admire the work of the chocolate makers: a team works in the museum to produce chocolates for the store and the restaurant’s dessert buffet. It’s really nice to be able to watch the (very meticulous!) craftsmanship that goes into creating these delights. As a bonus, I really liked the fact that I could talk and ask questions: there is no huge glass partition like sometimes, you are really in contact with the chocolatiers!

Long live tasting!

Finally, and this will interest all the gourmands of which I am a part, during the visit of the museum, you can taste many (very) numerous chocolates: you will be able to munch in more than twenty delights! Racks are installed in different parts of the museum, allowing you to test ganaches during the visit of the part of the museum dedicated to ganaches, pralines in the corner dedicated to pralines, etc…

I warn you, there are so many that it is better to make choices, it is difficult to taste everything (and yet I have a good capacity of ingestion of chocolate, I assure you!)! Be especially careful if you come with children to avoid the risk of them getting sick 😉

A nice little attention, you will be given at the entrance a small cardboard box in which you can put your favorite chocolates to leave with. The hardest part will be choosing! Personally, I totally fell for a chocolate with tonka bean…

Visit time

Even if the museum is not huge, allow 45 minutes for the visit: the time to watch all the videos, to observe the work of the chocolate makers and to ask questions, it goes by quickly! A booklet dedicated to children is offered free of charge to make the visit even more fun. Some videos are also dedicated to them.

🎥 My tip as a local: Take the time to watch all the videos all the way through—they’re what really bring the tour to life and make it informative.

Discovery courses and workshops

The “Secrets of Chocolate” museum offers weekly classes and workshops on the theme of chocolate (of course!). I took part in a special “pâte à tartiner” discovery workshop. The workshop is quick (20 minutes) and the realization very simple, but it already allows to make a small activity and to learn things. I left with my jar of spread and the recipe (and even a diploma!). This type of workshop is a really fun activity for children. Longer 2-hour courses are also available, which is another great idea for families! You can book these workshops and courses online:

• Museum tour and workshop
• Chocolatier’s course: le Gourmand
• Chocolatier’s Course: Chocolate Recipe

🎁 My tip as a local: the spread-making workshop (20 minutes) is perfect for a short, fun family activity—and you even get a certificate at the end!

Store of the Schaal chocolate factory

Even though the Schaal chocolate factory sells its products exclusively to businesses, it offers its chocolates for sale at its factory store. There’s so much to choose from—it’s tempting to walk out with a huge bag full of treats!

The store offers a deposit system: for a few euros, you can buy a glass jar to hold your chocolates instead of a plastic bag. Several types of chocolates are sold in bulk, allowing you to create your own assortment. I thought that was really great!

♻️ My tip as a local: Choose the returnable glass candy jar instead of the plastic bag—you can come back to refill it.

Museum Restaurant

The museum has a rather surprising restaurant, since it’s located… in a train! An old dining car has been repurposed to house the restaurant’s tables. It’s really lovely—it makes you feel like you’re traveling a bit while still staying in Strasbourg!

The restaurant offers a few simple but delicious dishes, served in glass jars. For dessert or an afternoon snack, there’s a buffet featuring treats prepared by the chocolatiers.

🚂 My tip as a local: have lunch in the old dining car—it’s the highlight of the whole experience!

FAQ: Your Questions About the Chocolate Museum