A team of 18 French bakers recently set a new world record for the longest handmade baguette. On May 5, 2024, they created a baguette measuring 140.53 meters, surpassing the previous record of 132.62 meters set in Italy in 2019. The event took place during the Suresnes Baguette Show near Paris, where the bakers had to knead and shape the dough on site before baking it in a rolling oven.
The traditional process began at 3 a.m., with supervision starting at 5 a.m., and the entire process was overseen by Guinness World Records representatives who verified the length of the finished baguette. The final product had to be at least five centimeters thick throughout its length to qualify for the record.
Dominique Anract, president of the French National Confederation of Boulangerie and Patisserie, praised the team’s efforts and stated that setting a record for the longest handmade baguette required true collective sportsmanship. As a gesture of goodwill, part of the baguette was cut into pieces and distributed to members of the public while the remainder was given to homeless people.
The “artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread” was recognized in 2022 when it was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, further highlighting its importance in French culture and dedication to their craft.
This achievement is being celebrated as a proud moment for France as they reclaimed their title from Italy after three years away from it.