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Top 10 Interesting Facts about The Fork – Alimentarium

At 929 pounds and 26 feet tall, the stainless steel fork of Vevey is listed as the world’s largest fork in the Guinness book of world records.

Located on the shore of Lake Geneva in Vevey, the fork was created by swiss artist Jean-Pierre Zaugg to mark the Alimentarium’s tenth anniversary in 1995.

The fork is a famous landmark in the lakeside city of Vevey which fascinates locals and tourists alike. It is also a favorite photography spot for residents and visitors in Vevey.

Here are the top interesting facts about the Fork-Alimentarium.

1. The Fork is part of the Alimentrium Food Museum

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The fork of Vevey which lies directly opposite the museum’s main entrance is the most well-known object in the Alimentarium collection. It has also become a major tourist attraction in the Swiss town of Vevey.

As the world’s first museum devoted to food and nutrition, the Alimentarium has been exploring the many aspects of the human diet from a historic, scientific, and cultural point of view for over 30 years.

The museum has four floors, displaying and explaining the knowledge of various food nutrition structures. It is open to the public every day from 10 am to 5. pm including weekends and public holidays.

2. The Fork was Removed and then Reinstated

The Fork – Alimentarium was first installed as a temporary exhibit to mark the 10^th anniversary of the Vevey food museum in 1995. It remained in the lake for one year and was taken down in 1996.

In 2008 the fork was re-installed in the lake following a successful public petition which forced the reinstatement of the fork. Since then the fork has remained in place and has become a major tourist attraction landmark in the area.

3. The Fork – Alimentarium is not the Largest in the World

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Despite popular belief and its listing in the Guinness book of records, The Fork – Alimentarium is not the largest fork in the world.

At 35 feet high, the fork angles up toward a three-story building occupied by Noble and Associates, a Springfield ad agency. Although no longer the world’s tallest it remains the heaviest weighing 11 tonnes.

The largest fork is found in Creede Corolado U.S.A. it is 40 feet long and weighs over 600 pounds. The fork was installed as an art display and birthday gift for Denise Dutwiler, the owner of a bar and grill in town.

4. The Fork – Alimentarium was Designed by Jean Pierre Zaugg

The Fork – Alimentarium was created by swiss artist Jean-Pierre Zaugg to mark the Alimentarium’s tenth anniversary in 1995. The project was commissioned and financed by the nestle food foundation.

Jean-Pierre Zaugg was a Swiss painter-artist-scenographer and was well-known for his designs in museums and exhibitions around the world. He died of cancer in 2012.

5. Enjoy a Lunch break at Alimentrium Restaurant

Located in the precincts of the food museum, Alimentarius restaurant gives its customers the best food experience. With its dedicated and food enthusiastic chefs, the restaurant offers the most outstanding meals in town.

The restaurant has a magnificent setting with a contemporary design that creates a relaxing ambiance. The restaurant chairs are attached to the boulders on the shore nearby. 

The Restaurant is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 13:30

6. Discover the Musee Jenisch Vevey

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Another major tourist attraction site near The Fork – Alimentarium is the Musee Jenisch, the second biggest fine arts and prints museum in Vevey.

It was set up on 10 March 1897, with donations from Fanny Henriette Jenisch the wife of Martin Johann Jenisch a senator of Hamburg. It was designed in the neo-classical style by the architect Louis Maillard and Robert Convert.

The museum houses prints and art from ancient Swiss and International artists from the 16th to the 21st century. The works of the famous Viennese artist Oskar Kokoschka are exhibited in this museum.

7. Visit Chaplin’s World

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Chaplin world is a  popular tourist destination near The Fork – Alimentarium. The property is known for having been Charlie Chaplin’s home for 25 years, from 1952 until his death in 1977.

It houses a museum dedicated to the life and work of one of the greatest showmen in history. It was opened to the public in April 2016 after 15 years of its development.

The structure is located at the heart of a ten-acre serene landscape and provides a beautiful sight of the Alpines and Lake Geneva. Every room has memoirs of Chaplin’s life in all aspects.

8. Explore Vevey Promenade 

A promenade was designed specifically for relaxation at the shore of Lake Geneva. It provides a picturesque view of the lake and the Alpines. It’s lined up with trees and it’s ideal for taking evening strolls around the promenade.

Some of the town’s most famous museums are lined up along the promenade with very tiny parks in the middle. A bronze Charlie Chaplin statue stands tall along with The Big Fork embedded in the lake. 

9. Take a Boat Tour

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Take a relaxing boat tour to the Swiss Riviera along one of the most scenic waterways in Europe as you ease into your adventure in Vevey, Switzerland.

With French Alps in the distance and the Lavaux vineyard behind, a boat trip is one of the best ways to explore Vevey and the surrounding Swiss Riviera.

The journey goes through some of the most remarkable landscapes surrounding the Swiss Riviera, including the fantastic backdrops past Montreaux, the Chateau de Chillon area, and the Dents du Midi terrains.

10. How to get to the Fork-Alimentarium

The nearest airport to Vevey is Sion (SIR). However, there are better options for getting to Vevey. Swiss Railways (SBB/CFF/FFS) operates a train from Genève-Aéroport to Vevey hourly.

To get to The Fork – Alimentarium from the train station or the airport one can take a bus, taxi, or walk.