When you think about culinary tourism, you probably picture eating your weight in pasta in Italy or sampling the best of Bangkok's street food. But there are also more niche tourist attractions for foodies
like the museum in Belgium that's dedicated entirely to strawberries
or Strawberry Museum — located in Belgium's strawberry capital
the village of Wépion — teaches visitors all about the tasty fruit
with a special emphasis on the history of strawberries in the surrounding Meuse Valley
The museum also boasts a berry garden with 15 varieties of strawberries that you can try in addition to other local fruits
you'll be treated to exhibits on strawberries' history
Although the official languages of Belgium are French
the museum has English translations available
you can stop by the museum's gift shop for an assortment of strawberry products including liqueurs and jams
According to The New York Times
Wépion held its first official strawberry market in 1933
so the area has long been known for its production of the popular fruit
told the outlet that Wépion strawberries' superiority comes down to how and when they're picked
Unlike many other strawberry sellers, Wépion growers don't ship their product far and wide, which allows them to wait until the strawberries are fully ripe before they pick them
The pickers also take extra care with the fruit
grabbing them only by their fingernails so as not to bruise them
flavor-packed strawberry without any mushy bruised spots
about an hour and a half away from Brussels by train
You can't visit the area without trying the famous strawberries and stopping by the museum erected in their honor
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Strawberry season in Belgium is a big deal
Wépion’s berries are known throughout the country
and their arrival on store shelves is eagerly anticipated
This tiny museum tells the history of strawberry growing and production in this region and explains its importance to the economy and culture of Wépion
The museum also boasts a small shop of strawberry products (pictured here) including: jams
there are also guided tours of the 35 acre “Jardin des Petits Fruits,” a garden of local and exotic fruits
Don’t forget to stop at one of the town’s many strawberry stands to taste these local legends for yourself
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their tongue-in-cheek attitude was certainly in practice
It was the month of October and Manneken Pis — Brussel’s iconic statue of a boy urinating — happened to be dressed like a vampire in honor of Halloween
which has a famous statue of its own: one of a young student reading a book while pouring a beer straight into his head
a proclivity to silliness can be found in many of the country’s tourist attractions
and Belgium’s eccentric and bizarrely fun museums are no exception to the rule
“There are so many quirky museums in Belgium because the Belgian people love to celebrate what makes them unique
their humor and their innate kitsch,” said Francoise Haffreingue
executive manager of the Belgian Tourist Office
“Brussels and the Wallonia region offer terrific family-friendly attractions where you can mix culture
art and history with entertainment for all.”
Haffreingue says she would recommend a visit to some the country’s strangest museums
whether traveling with or without children
“Not only are our quirky museums interesting but they definitely make a great anecdote,” she said
“Where else but in Wallonia can you say that you went to a museum dedicated entirely to carrots?”
Carrot MuseumThe Carrot Museum in the tiny village of Berlotte might not be that extensive
there are no staff members around to answer questions
and visitors are not allowed to actually enter the building
the exhibition is viewable through a window
and guests can switch displays by rotating a wheel
the museum is maintained by a local carrot club that only admits men (sorry ladies).This unusual attraction made Time Out magazine’s list of 15 of the World’s Weirdest Museums
and no other place lays claim to such a detailed collection of carrot-themed memorabilia
Chocolate MuseumPut down that ordinary Hershey’s bar in favor of something even more remarkable
Belgium is one of the world’s leading purveyors of chocolate
and the quaint town of Bruges has dedicated an entire museum to the sweet treat
Located within a gorgeous 15th-century wine tavern
Choco-Story: The Chocolate Museum details the origin and evolution of chocolate through a unique collection of nearly 1,000 objects
visitors can watch as Belgian pralines are painstakingly crafted
see what chocolate looks like in various stages of production and
sample the coveted confections created by on-site chocolatiers
www.museedumasque.be/en
International Carnival and Mask MuseumHave you ever noticed that donning a festive costume can influence your behavior
visitors will learn about the diversity of masks and the symbolic transformation that their wearers often undergo
the museum is offering a temporary exhibition
Carnivals and Masquerades of Europe and the Mediterranean,” in cooperation with Marseille
France’s Museum of European and Mediterranean Civilizations
is this year’s European Capital of Culture
and “An Upside-Down World” is part of the official programming
costumes and objects that depict rural masquerades as well as today’s urban parades of Europe and the Mediterranean
www.museedumasque.be/en
Laundry MuseumIf your millennial daughter complains about having to fold her own laundry
take her to the Laundry Museum in Spa to see just how easy she’s got it
The exhibition recounts the painful situation of women in the centuries before the washing machine was invented
the evolution of linen laundering techniques helped to fuel a change in attitudes
enabling women to free themselves from housework over time
Watching a demonstration of how your Belgian grandma might have done the washing in 1940s can really put things into perspective
Strawberry MuseumThanks to a favorable microclimate and a surplus of sunny days
the town of Wepion has been cultivating super-sweet strawberries for more than 150 years
Wepion is known as the Belgian Strawberry Capital for its history of producing the berry
and even today the strawberry is considered to be inseparable from the Wepionnaise way of life
“The arrival of the strawberry on grocery shelves is an event that is eagerly anticipated in Wepion,” Haffreingue said
the citizens of Wepion established the small and delightfully kitschy Strawberry Museum
one of my favorite quirky museums in Belgium.”
Guests will discover the origins of the fruit
its place in local culture and its significance on the region
An on-site boutique sells authentic souvenirs that friends and family back home will appreciate — everything from strawberry liqueur and handmade syrup to strawberry-scented perfume
A gift of Wepion’s strawberry preserves coupled with a box of Belgian chocolate is sure to score some serious brownie points
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