Paris is absolutely chock-a-block with museums, but it might surprise you to know that the French capital doesn’t yet have a museum dedicated to one of the country’s most quintessential snacks – cheese. Until now, that is.
That’s right, we’ve got some gouda news. Cheesemaker Pierre Brisson, who moved to Paris 15 years ago and also runs a cheesemaking school, has decided to open a Musée du Fromage to showcase traditional cheesemaking processes, and it’ll be welcoming visitors from June 14.
Visitors will be able to learn about the ‘passion and amazement’ of cheese and learn about the history of France’s agriculture. There are cheesemaking demos in the museum’s central exhibition where you can take part in workshops and, more importantly, sample the final product. Sounds pretty un-brie-lievable, right?
‘I realised that lots of things were already organised in Paris to promote wine. Wine culture is developed in France,’ Frisson said to euronews, ‘Cheese is also a big thing, but there were no places where people could learn more deeply about the processes of making cheese.’
But the museum hasn’t just been churned out to feed peckish Parisiennes (although we’re sure they’re grateful for that). Frisson believes that the cost of living crisis and young people’s growing disheartened attitude towards modern working routines might encourage them back to the countryside.
There’s also high demand for traditionally made cheeses (France produces 246 varieties of cheese in total) but a lack of labour to produce it all. ‘It’s time to come back to a more tough life. But … it could be a very happy life,’ he said, ‘A good cheesemaker earns well in life.’
‘We’re working with traditional farmers, so we want people [to feel like they’re] kind of travelling when they taste the cheese. We are opening a little window in the heart of Paris to the rural side of France,’ said Frisson.
So, if you fancy a life as a cheesemaker, or just want to relax and take it cheesy in a brand-new museum, you can head to Musée du Fromage (at 39 rue Saint-Louis en l’Île, 75004 Paris) from Friday June 14.
Did you see that France is launching a mega-cheap rail pass next month?
Plus: You can book a place at this Paris art gallery to watch the Olympic Opening Ceremony.
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