Macron: "Cafes Should Also Be Listed as UNESCO Heritage Like the Baguette"

Calls for Cafes and Bistros to Be Recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for cafes and bistros, which serve as popular gathering places for the French, to be inscribed as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

According to TF1, President Macron stated at a cultural event held at the Elysee Palace on the evening of January 5 (local time) that cafes and bistros should receive the same recognition as the baguette, which was added to the UNESCO Intangible Heritage list in 2022.

President Macron emphasized, "This is a cause we want to pursue," adding, "Cafes and bistros are places that sell many traditional products such as croissants and baguettes, and they are at the forefront of showcasing French know-how."

In France, cafes and bistros serve as neighborhood gathering spots where residents regularly visit to enjoy home-style meals and drinks. They are small eateries that are more affordable than restaurants.

The French Bistro and Cafe Association has been working since 2024 to have these venues inscribed as UNESCO cultural heritage. On its website, the association describes these places as "mediators of time," highlighting that they "span centuries and generations."

Shortly after taking office in 2018, President Macron advocated for the French national bread, the baguette, to be listed as UNESCO cultural heritage. Subsequently, in November 2022, UNESCO inscribed "the artisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread" as intangible cultural heritage.