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Cologne's Chocolate Museum

The Chocolate Museum in Cologne is so cool, even real people from Cologne like it. It's dedicated to the history of chocolate and chocolate production, and houses its own chocolate factory. Visitors can get up close and personal with the production process, and with every incarnation of the bean. Fewer chocolatiers than you might think actually process their own cacao beans, not that it's easy (Jacques Torres is one exception to the norm). So a trip here really will teach you something you can't learn just by scarfing truffles back home.

The museum offers guided tours, and a special exhibition called "Appetite for Art," featuring the chocolate-themed work of Annette Wessel, just wrapped. After a tour, you'll eventually end up in the cafe and/or gift shop. If you expect that to be the best part and can't quite wait, you can check out both for free at any time. Of course, it doesn't really count as "free" when you end up ordering every one of the fourteen kinds of chocolate drink the cafe offers. You can down them all while overlooking the Rhine.

Admission is €6 and the facility is closed on Mondays. During the week, operating hours are 10 am-6 pm (weekend hours are 11 am-7 pm). Signs are in German and English; Guides tours in English are available.

[Photo: Miss Lazy]

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