Chocolarium - the happiness factory of Munz and Minor

7 Highlights in the Chocolarium - the happiness factory of Munz and Minor

• 3500 tons of chocolate are produced annually in the chocolate factory. The Chocolarium sells about one third of the production abroad.
• The chocolate production of Munz and Minor can be observed live Tuesday to Friday via a disc.
• Visitors take an interactive experience tour or use an audio guide.
• At the Chocolarium, you can take a pouring class and make your own creations.
• A small movie theater lets visitors learn how happiness gets into chocolate.
• A free game tour with 4 stations invites families to play interactive outdoor games. You go together in search of missing ingredients for the chocolate and get a sweet reward afterwards.
• The chocolate store invites you to shop after extensive tastings.

All is well with the world at the Chocolarium. After all, we all know that chocolate makes you happy. You can find out here how to squeeze happiness into chocolate. But before that, you'll pass through the "Glücksschleuse." From Tuesday to Friday, you can even watch the chocolate production process live via an 80-meter-long glass gallery.

But there's more to the Chocolarium than just enjoying Swiss chocolate. Pouring courses, outdoor games and even chocolate polishing with chocolate high heels are just some of the activities available. The "Chocolate Factory of Happiness" even offers overnight stays.

Chocolarium Experience World

The Chocolarium has created an experience world over approximately 2000 m². Here, you can see how delicious chocolate is made from cocoa beans. You'll also find plenty of chocolate for snacking. The experience tour is complemented by various courses and events. It's a great place to enjoy sweet moments with family, friends, or colleagues. An audio guide is included in the entrance fee, available in both German and English.

Experience Tour through the Chocolarium

The experience tour through the Chocolarium lasts about an hour. It’s an interactive tour where you're directly involved and can ask questions yourself.

The tour starts with a short film about chocolate and happiness. Later, you'll pass through the happiness gate and unravel the secret behind why chocolate makes you happy. You’ll observe the live chocolate production from an 80 m long glass gallery. The brands Minor and Munz are produced from Tuesday to Friday.

A show confectionery is the highlight of this tour. Afterward, you can have a chocolate bar freshly poured for you on request. Your “own bar” costs 10 CHF and you can decorate it as you like.

Globi, a popular character from the beloved Swiss Globi children's books, especially accompanies the kids during the experience tour. Along the way, this bird-like comic character explains the chocolate factory to the children in its own way.

Offer at Swiss Activities:

• Chocolarium Maestrani Ticket

Outdoor play tour

The outdoor game tour is a nice addition for families. Together you try to find lost ingredients for the chocolate. Four puzzle stations are located on the 2.5 km long trail, which starts at the entrance of the Chocolarium

All you need for this interactive game tour is a smartphone or tablet. You will have to download the free app yourself. It requires a storage space of 900MB. If your phone needs an extra powerbank, you can borrow it for 4 CHF (15 CHF deposit).

The trail leads through the beautiful nature reserve Botsberger Riet, which starts behind the chocolate factory. At the end you will get a reward for your participation in the Schoggi Shop. You can do the game tour even when the factory is closed. For the reward, just show a screenshot later. You should allow 1 to 1.5 hours for the whole tour.

Courses & Events at Chocolarium

Kids' birthday parties, chocolate pouring classes, and chocolate polter evenings: Chocolarium offers a range of sweet activities.

Kids' Birthday Party

You can book a kids' birthday party for children aged 6 to 14 with just 6 participants. An adult accompanying the group is free. After a fun interactive tour, all kids will decorate a freshly poured chocolate bar in the show confectionery. They can choose their favorite toppings. The birthday child gets a special surprise. The event lasts between 1 and 2 hours.

At the end, you have the option to purchase nicely arranged Globi sweet bags for the children, if you want.

A Night in the Chocolate Room

Can you and your family or friends not get enough of the sweet temptation? Then simply book a night in the double chocolate room at Hotel Säntispark.

You will enjoy a tour of Chocolarium and decorate a chocolate bar. In your room at Hotel Säntispark, you can indulge further. Additionally, you have unlimited access to the bath, slide, and sauna world on both days. You’ll get a 20% discount for entry to the Roman-Irish bath.

More information at Swiss Activities:

• Säntispark - the recreation center in Eastern Switzerland for the whole family

Chocolate Polter

At Chocolate Polter, everyone gets a chocolate-shaped high heel to decorate. A welcome drink is included, along with a customized tour of Chocolarium. This 2-hour event (plus tour time) accommodates 10 to 14 participants.

Public Pouring Classes

Public pouring classes are offered for pouring Globi or other figures according to your design. They last around 2 hours. Alternatively, you can take the ingredients you've always wanted in your favorite chocolate and create your personal bar in 45 minutes.

The advantage is that a knowledgeable guide will assist you. The tour is also part of these classes. Children from 4 years old can join if an adult is present.

Group Pouring Classes

The following group pouring classes can be booked starting from 10 people:

• Pouring Class Münz Bar (1 hour plus tour)
• Pouring Class Münz Pralines (1.5 hours plus tour)
• Pouring Class Sweet Chocolate Figures (2 hours plus tour)

Offer at Swiss Activities:

• Pouring Class Colorful Figures at Chocolarium

Café and store in the Chocolarium

A Schoggi Café offers more sweet temptations. But here you can also get sandwiches or snacks that go well with a drinking chocolate. A terrace provides the right atmosphere. The Schoggi Shop awaits you with 300 fantastic chocolate products. Here you will find nice ideas for gifts. But of course you can also give yourself a present.

Combi offers at the Chocolarium

Three combination offers are interesting for families:

• Schoggi & Zoo (all year round)
• Schoggi & Treetops (May and June)
• Chocolarium & Show Dairy (all year round)

These combinations let you save 20% of the cost of the entrance tickets. After visiting the Chocolarium, you have up to 7 days to visit the Walter Zoo in Gossau or the treetop path in Mogelsberg. The treetop path is about 20 minutes by car from Maestrani. You should plan about 3-4 hours for the visit.

Chocolarium & Schaukäserei combines the sweet experience of happiness with the salty. The Appenzell show dairy in Stein is about 30 minutes away by car (20 km) and also does not have to be visited on the same day. The adventure tour lasts about an hour.

Swiss Activities Tips for the Chocolarium

Club members Hello Family and Raiffeisen MemberPlus

For Club Members, the Chocolarium offers a 30% discount from mid-June to the end of August. Raiffeisen MemberPlus members even get in for free. The ticket can be booked online free of charge.

do not come with a full stomach

To fully enjoy the chocolate experience, you should not eat too much beforehand. After all, there must still be enough room for the sweet happiness.

only chocolate factory with live production

The Chocolarium is the only chocolate factory in Switzerland where you can get a live insight into the production. You can do this from Tuesday to Friday through the glass gallery on the experience tour.

chocolate trail

From the train station in Flawil, an approximately 2.5 km long theme trail leads through the nature reserve. The great landscape and a comfortable hiking trail let you feel the Schoggi experience even better afterwards. The short hiking trail ensures a good appetite for a reward.

Come also in nice weather

If you want to experience the walk surrounded by a little less people, pick a nice sunny day. While most people are outside enjoying the sun, you can spend as much time as you like in the Chocolarium, tasting your way through the delicious chocolates at the five brand new chocolate fountains.

Getting to the Chocolarium

The Chocolarium - the happiness factory of Munz and Minor, is located near St. Gallen in Flawil. From the cities of Constance (D), Bregenz (A), Zurich, or St. Gallen, you can reach the chocolate factory in under an hour.

by car

You can reach us by car from the northwest and northeast via the A1 motorway, taking exit 78/Uzwil near Oberbüren. Follow Gupfenstrasse, Niederuzwilerstrasse, and Flawilerstrasse to arrive at Toggenburgerstrasse in Flawil.

150 free parking spaces are available directly at the Chocolarium.

by public transport

You have great access to the chocolate factory by train and postbus. From St. Gallen, take the train via Gossau to Flawil, and then the postbus to the stop “Maestrani.” The Bodensee Ticket (South Zone) applies here as well. Alternatively, from Flawil train station, you can walk about 40 minutes along the Schoggiweg.

From Zurich, you first take the train to Uzwil station and then the postbus to the stop “Maestrani.”

Practical Information About the Chocolarium

Things to Keep in Mind

• The last admission is one hour before closing.
• The Chocolarium is closed on Mondays.
• On weekends, you won't be able to watch the live production as there will be no production happening.

What to Bring

• An appetite and excitement for chocolate
• If applicable, membership cards like Hello Family or Raiffeisen MemberPlus

Additional Practical Information

• The Chocolarium is fully wheelchair accessible and has a suitable restroom.
• No pets are allowed on the premises.
• Smoking is not permitted anywhere inside the building.

The Chocolarium isn't the only chocolate factory you can visit. In our article about Swiss Chocolate Factories, you'll find many more sweet places to explore.