If you love baguettes as much as we do, you’ll be pleased to know that the long French loaf is finally getting the recognition it deserves!
The French are known for their baking skills (croissants, macarons, need we go on?) and there is something so simple yet satisfying about a sandwich served on a baguette. In fact, more than 3 million jambon-beurre, which consists of butter and ham on a baguette, are sold in France each day.
The humble bread has now been included on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Other notable elements on the list include kimchi from Korea, Neapolitan pizza in Italy, and beer culture in Belgium.
An element makes the cut if it fits UNESCO’s 6 criteria which includes constituting “intangible cultural heritage as defined in Article 2 of the Convention,” and being “in urgent need of safeguarding because its viability is at risk despite the efforts of the community.”
UNESCO’s director-general—who previously served as France’s former minister of culture—Audrey Azoulay, welcomed the announcement, stating, “This will make people realize that this regular baguette that they know very well, is something precious. It comes from history, and it has character and it’s important to make the public aware of this, to be proud of it.”
