www.bbc.com Open in urlscan Pro
151.101.64.81  Public Scan

Form analysis
0 forms found in the DOM

Text Content

Skip to content

British Broadcasting Corporation
Register
Sign In
 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Business
 * Innovation
 * Culture
 * Arts
 * Travel
 * Earth
 * Video
 * Live

 * Home
   
 * News
    * Israel-Gaza War
      
    * War in Ukraine
      
    * US Election
      
    * US & Canada
      
    * UK
       * UK Politics
         
       * England
         
       * N. Ireland
          * N. Ireland Politics
            
      
       * Scotland
          * Scotland Politics
            
      
       * Wales
          * Wales Politics
            
   
    * Africa
      
    * Asia
       * China
         
       * India
         
   
    * Australia
      
    * Europe
      
    * Latin America
      
    * Middle East
      
    * In Pictures
      
    * BBC InDepth
      
    * BBC Verify
      

 * Sport
   
 * Business
    * Executive Lounge
      
    * Technology of Business
      
    * Future of Business
      

 * Innovation
    * Technology
      
    * Science & Health
      
    * Artificial Intelligence
      
    * AI v the Mind
      

 * Culture
    * Film & TV
      
    * Music
      
    * Art & Design
      
    * Style
      
    * Books
      
    * Entertainment News
      

 * Arts
    * Arts in Motion
      

 * Travel
    * Destinations
       * Africa
         
       * Antarctica
         
       * Asia
         
       * Australia and Pacific
         
       * Caribbean & Bermuda
         
       * Central America
         
       * Europe
         
       * Middle East
         
       * North America
         
       * South America
         
   
    * World’s Table
      
    * Culture & Experiences
      
    * Adventures
      
    * The SpeciaList
      

 * Earth
    * Natural Wonders
      
    * Weather & Science
      
    * Climate Solutions
      
    * Sustainable Business
      
    * Green Living
      

 * Video
   
 * Live
    * Live News
      
    * Live Sport
      


Register
Sign In
Home
News

Sport
Business

Innovation

Culture

Arts

Travel

Earth

Video
Live

Audio
Weather
Newsletters


FRENCH BAGUETTE GETS UNESCO HERITAGE STATUS

30 November 2022
Share
Save
Flora Drury
BBC News
Share
Save
Reuters
In 2019, an estimate suggested almost six billion baguettes are baked each year

There are arguably few things more quintessentially French than the humble
baguette.

After all, the country is said to produce some 16 million a day.

And yet, the baguette has been in decline in recent years, as traditional
bakeries struggle against the rise of things like large supermarkets and the
increasing popularity of sourdough.

But now there's something to celebrate, as Unesco adds the baguette to its
"intangible cultural heritage" list.

The body announced it had added "artisanal know-how and culture of baguette
bread" to its list of 600 other items, joining things like traditional tea
making in China and a Korean mask dance known as "talchum" - both also included
for the first time in 2022.

Its inclusion "celebrates the French way of life", Unesco chief Audrey Asoulay
said, adding: "The baguette is a daily ritual, a structuring element of the
meal, synonymous with sharing and conviviality.

"It is important that these skills and social habits continue to exist in the
future."




'ENVIED AROUND THE WORLD'

The exact provenance of the baguette is not known: some suggest the bread was
ordered by Napoleon because it would be easier for soldiers to carry, while
others suggest it came along later - an easy bread for workers to tear and share
without the need of a knife in Paris. Others still credit an Austrian baker in
the 1830s for its shape.

However, the baguette as we know it today was only officially named just over
100 years ago, in 1920. It was then that strict rules about what classed as a
baguette were put in place - standardised at 80cm (30ins) and 250g (8oz). It
even had a fixed price until 1986.

By the middle of the 20th Century, the baguette had won over the country. But
since 1970, 400 artisanal bakeries have closed down each year, with the total
number across France dropping from 55,000 to 35,000 today, according to news
agency AFP.

And yet it remains key to French identity, with President Emmanuel Macron saying
the baguette was "envied around the world". Mr Macron - who has long fought to
get the baguette added to the list - noted after the announcement that the
baguette was "250 grams of magic and perfection in our daily lives".

Unesco
The French delegation celebrated the announcement by waving baguettes in the air

For the artisanal bakers who remain dedicated to the loaf, Wednesday's news also
came as a welcome recognition of the craft they had perfected.

"The baguette is flour, water, salt, yeast - and the know-how of the craftsman,"
Dominique Anract, president of the baker's federation, said in a press release.



Parisian baker Priscilla Hayertz acknowledged to AFP that it was "a basic
product" but one "that affects all socio-cultural categories, whether you're
rich, poor... it doesn't matter, everyone eats baguettes".


FRANCE SEEKS UN HERITAGE STATUS FOR THE BAGUETTE


UKRAINE DECLARES VICTORY IN THE WAR FOR BORSCH


WALES' SLATE LANDSCAPE WINS WORLD HERITAGE STATUS


PIZZA-TWIRLING GETS WORLD HERITAGE STATUS

France
Unesco
Food

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Related


'THEY THREW HER BODY INTO THE OCEAN' - WOMAN DIES ON BOAT HEADED FOR FRENCH
ISLAND

8 hrs ago

World


MALIAN SINGER DETAINED IN BELGIUM IN CHILD CUSTODY ROW

2 days ago

World


GARGOYLES, STAINED GLASS AND THE SPIRE: HOW NOTRE-DAME WAS RESTORED

2 days ago

Europe

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

More
4 days ago


WHY WE FEEL THE NEED TO FEAST TOGETHER

For thousands of years, humans have come together in small groups to feast on
food. Why is it important – and why do we still continue the tradition?

4 days ago

Future
5 days ago


FORAGER PREPARES FOR THREE-MONTH WILD FOOD DIET

'Fergus the forager' is living off wild food for three months in an experiment
into eating habits.

5 days ago

Kent
21 Nov 2024


'FANTASTIC' FOOD CHARITY CALLS FOR VOLUNTEERS

FoodCycle is launching its Reading Community Meal, the 100th weekly event across
the UK.

21 Nov 2024

Berkshire
21 Nov 2024


UKRAINE REFUGEE BIDS TO BECOME WORLD BUTTERY CHAMP

Iryna Porfilova - who moved to Moray from Kyiv - has tried to master the famed
Aberdeen delicacy.

21 Nov 2024

NE, Orkney & Shetland

18 Nov 2024


ORGANIC CARROTS RECALLED IN US AFTER DEADLY E. COLI OUTBREAK

One person has died and others are in hospital after eating the carrots,
officials say.

18 Nov 2024

US & Canada



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

British Broadcasting Corporation
 * Home
 * News
 * Sport
 * Business
 * Innovation
 * Culture
 * Arts
 * Travel
 * Earth
 * Video
 * Live
 * Audio
 * Weather
 * BBC Shop

BBC in other languages



FOLLOW BBC ON:


 * Terms of Use
 * About the BBC
 * Privacy Policy
 * Cookies
 * Accessibility Help
 * Contact the BBC
 * Advertise with us
 * Do not share or sell my info
 * Contact technical support

Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved.  The BBC is not responsible for the
content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.