"Bread and circuses!" is a famous slogan of Ancient Rome that remains highly relevant to this day. In Saint Petersburg, they know that the public values both bread and entertainment equally, and so they decided to combine the two in one place - the State Museum of Bread.
This collection opened in 1988, and it was originally an industry museum; only 5 years later was it given state status.
The collection contains everything related to the history of the most important food product. Thousands of different types of baked goods, tools and implements for making bread, and kitchen utensils from different eras reflect the history and regional features of bread baking. There is also an interesting collection of items that are directly or indirectly connected with bread - samovars and tableware traditional for Russian kitchens of the past, paintings and figurines associated with bread. This entire exhibition of more than 15 thousand items gives a complete picture of the everyday and spiritual significance of bread in Russian families.
The most touching and unforgettable exhibit of the Museum of Bread is the legendary 125 grams - the daily ration per person in besieged Leningrad. During the war, this small loaf was issued by ration cards, and it was baked from oat and rye flour with the addition of oilcake.
