Baguettes have long been an iconic part of France’s culinary world, and now, French bakers have just clinched the title for baking the longest baguette ever recorded.
Measuring a whopping 140.53 meters (that’s about 461 feet!), this colossal creation outstrips the previous record held by Italy, which stood at 132.62 meters (equivalent to 435 feet and 1 inch), a record that had stood unchallenged for nearly five years, as confirmed by Guinness World Records.
The monumental loaf was baked publicly on a Sunday during the Suresnes Baguette Show, held at the Terrasse du Fécheray observation deck in Suresnes, a western suburb near Paris.
A judge from Guinness World Records was present to authenticate the achievement, according to Reuters, although CNN has reached out to GWR for further confirmation.
The ambitious endeavor involved a team of 18 dedicated bakers who began the meticulous process at the crack of dawn, starting with dough preparation at 3 a.m. local time and overseeing the baking process from 5 a.m., as detailed in a press release from Suresnes. A special mobile oven was even designed for the occasion.
Once the mammoth baguette was baked to perfection, a portion of it was sliced up, slathered with Nutella, and shared with the delighted crowd. Another portion was generously donated to the local youth association Celije for distribution among the homeless later that evening, as stated in the release.
“Suresnes is immensely proud to host this historic moment of creating the world’s longest baguette, which pays tribute to a national emblem of our gastronomy and the artisans who uphold its craftsmanship,” remarked Suresnes mayor Guillaume Boudy in the release.
“I extend my warmest congratulations to the bakers of Suresnes who contributed to this feat, showcasing the spirit of sharing that is integral to our community,” Boudy added.
Dominique Anract, president of the French National Confederation of Boulangerie and Patisserie, emphasized the tremendous effort involved in achieving this milestone, noting, “It took about 10 hours of dedicated work. Setting a record for the longest handmade baguette truly epitomizes teamwork, and in this Olympic year, kudos to all our artisan bakers.”
In accordance with official French government specifications, traditional French baguettes are crafted using only white flour, water, yeast, and salt, with five distinct blade strokes, and typically measure around 60 centimeters (approximately 23.6 inches) in length and 5 to 6 centimeters (about 2 to 2.4 inches) in width.
French baguettes were granted a special protected status in 2022, with UNESCO officially recognizing the “artisanal know-how and culture of the baguette” on its list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
The endeavor to break the record for the world’s longest baguette was a fitting homage to this revered heritage and cultural tradition, according to the Suresnes release.
