On May 5, 2024, a team of 18 French bakers successfully broke the world record for the longest handmade baguette. The baguette measured 140.53 meters in length and was created during the Suresnes Baguette Show near Paris.
The event began at 3 a.m., with supervision starting at 5 a.m. The traditional process involved kneading and shaping the dough on site before baking it in front of the public in a rolling oven. To qualify for the record, the baguette had to be at least 5 centimeters thick throughout its length.
Dominique Anract, president of the French National Confederation of Boulangerie and Patisserie, praised the bakers for their collective sportsmanship in setting this new world record. As a gesture of goodwill, part of the baguette was cut into pieces and distributed to the public, while the remainder was given to homeless people.
This achievement is being celebrated as a proud moment for France as they reclaimed their title from Italy after they set it in 2019 with a baguette measuring only 132.62 meters long. This latest attempt further highlights the importance of baguette-making in French culture and the dedication of bakers to their craft, which was recognized by UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 for its “artisanal know-how and culture”.