Cider Museum: Cider Museums Around the World

In many countries, apple cider is much more than just a drink; it is a real institution. This love for apples and cider stems from local cultural and agricultural traditions, in territories where orchards, particularly apple orchards, have always been part of the local landscape.

Countries like Spain, England, and France have a long-standing passion and culture for cider production, where apples have been cultivated since ancient times. In Spain, when talking about Asturian cider, the beverage is truly a cult, so much so that there is a specific protocol for pouring this delicious liquid from the barrels. Cider is served from above, whether it is from barrels or bottles. In the case of the bottle, the cider is served by lifting the arm holding the bottle vertically, gripping it with the thumb and forefinger. After taking this position, the cider falls decisively from a considerable height, hitting the inside of the glass.

In many countries, the great love for the alcoholic beverage obtained from apples is so strong that entire museums are dedicated to cider. This happens in the UK, Spain, and many other places around the world. Let’s discover where the Cider Museums are and how to visit them.

Cider Museums: Where They Are and What to See

Hereford Cider Museum (UK)

The Hereford Cider Museum was founded in 1973 to preserve the history of cider production worldwide. The extensive collection includes cider mills, presses, bottles, old photographs, watercolors, advertising memorabilia, and a rare collection of lead crystal English cider flutes. The location itself is an institution for cider lovers as it is housed in the original Bulmer factory from 1888. The museum also houses the Archive of Cider Pomology (www.ArchiveOfCiderPomology.co.uk), a collection of documents, books, images, maps, and oral histories. The archive provides research services on topics including fruit cultivation and cider and perry production. To make an appointment to view the archive, write to ciderpomologyarchive@gmail.com

Website: https://www.cidermuseum.co.uk/
Address: The museum is located west of the city of Hereford, off the A438 Brecon Road.
Opening Hours: 10:30 – 16:30 Monday to Saturday

Mill House Cider Museum (UK)

In the heart of Dorset, the Mill House Cider Museum showcases all the steps and traditional processing of how this beverage is produced. It is possible to learn the history of cider and understand its importance as a beverage over the years. A video shows how cider was actually produced with 18th and 19th-century equipment. It is possible to taste part of the range of different ciders and apple juice in our shop and purchase a wide range of cider, grappa, gin, rum, and Dorset wines.

Website: https://www.millhousecider.com/
Address: 33 Moreton Road, Owermoigne, Dorchester, Dorset DT28HZ
Opening Hours: 10:00 – 16:00 Tuesday to Saturday

MoMö (Switzerland)

MoMö is the cider museum located in Arbon, Switzerland. Since 1895, the Möhl company in Arbon has been producing cider by skillfully working apples. This traditional passion led to the desire to dedicate a real museum to this slightly alcoholic beverage, which can also host ancient presses, mills, and laboratory equipment. Thanks to interactive stations, visitors can learn about the various stages of fruit processing.

Website: https://www.moehl.ch/de/besuche-das-momoe/momoe/
Address: St. Gallerstrasse 209, 9320 Arbon
Opening Hours: Mon – Tue closed
Wed – Fri 09:00 – 18:30
Sat – Sun 09:00 – 17:00

Museo de la Sidra de Asturias (Spain)

Located in the city of Nava, one of the cider capitals of Asturias, the museum is a tribute to cider culture. The museum was conceived as an exhibition of pieces arranged according to thematic criteria, with the challenge of visitor participation. Through an immersive exhibition system, it seeks to convey as much information as possible about cider production, consumption, and history, considering all aspects and the social and cultural setting of this beverage.

Website: https://www.museodelasidra.com/
Address: Plaza del Príncipe de Asturias s/n
33520 Nava, Asturias (Principality of Asturias)
Opening Hours:
Mon closed
Tue 11:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Wed 11:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Thu 11:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Fri 11:00 – 14:00, 16:00 – 19:00
Sat 11:00 – 15:00, 16:30 – 20:00
Sun 11:00 – 14:00

Musee Regional Du Cidre (France)

In France, there is the regional cider museum, located in Valognes. The museum is housed in an old Valognes house, specifically in a fifteenth-century building. On the ground floor, you will find numerous videos on the history of cider, through which you will also learn about all the stages of the cider production process. On the upper floor, there is an exhibition of many original tools used for apple harvesting and all the processing stages.

Website: https://www.france-voyage.com/francia-citta/valognes-17890/museo-cidre-5272.htm
Address: Rue du petit Versailles, 50700 Valognes