Macron advocates UNESCO status for French bistros and cafés
President Emmanuel Macron urged the inclusion of France's bistros and cafés on UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage during the traditional Epiphany galette ceremony at the Élysée Palace on Monday. He highlighted their role in preserving French culinary traditions, noting they serve countless croissants, baguettes, and other staples while embodying national savoir-faire. This push follows UNESCO's 2022 recognition of the baguette as an exemplar of artisanal bread culture.
The French Bistros and Cafés Association launched its campaign for UNESCO status in 2024, portraying these venues as timeless guardians of history across centuries and generations. In October 2024, the French government classified the social and cultural practices of bistros and cafés as national intangible heritage, marking the initial step toward international acknowledgment.
The effort underscores concerns over their sharp decline, from around 450,000 establishments postwar to fewer than 40,000 today.
Macron also called for labor law reforms to allow restaurants, particularly bakeries, to operate on May 1, Labor Day, with employee consent and proper compensation. The proposal addresses a 2025 controversy in Vendée, where five bakers faced penalties for staffing on the holiday before acquittal. He argued that even Labor Day advocates often value access to fresh bread or open eateries for family meals, stressing the need for legal clarity to avoid regulatory ambiguities.
The Senate passed clarifying legislation in July 2025, permitting voluntary work at bakeries and florists on May 1. Unions and left-wing groups criticized it as undermining the holiday's significance. Macron hopes the National Assembly will approve the bill before May 1, 2026.
-
08:48
-
08:44
-
08:33
-
08:25
-
08:24
-
08:17
-
08:16
-
08:15
-
08:13
-
08:11
-
08:08
-
08:06
-
08:03
-
08:00
-
07:59
-
07:54
-
07:43
-
07:21
-
21:00
-
20:25
-
20:10
-
19:45
-
19:25
-
19:05
-
18:47
-
18:32
-
18:15
-
17:47
-
17:30
-
17:10
-
16:45
-
16:25
-
16:10
-
15:59
-
15:58
-
15:55
-
15:47
-
15:45
-
15:42
-
15:40
-
15:38
-
15:37
-
15:35
-
15:33
-
15:30
-
15:27
-
15:25
-
15:23
-
15:05
-
14:45
-
14:25
-
14:11
-
14:10
-
13:45
-
13:43
-
13:26
-
13:17
-
13:10
-
12:48
-
12:47
-
12:42
-
12:33
-
12:16
-
12:00
-
11:41
-
11:23
-
11:20
-
11:15
-
11:05
-
11:01
-
10:48
-
10:32
-
10:29
-
10:15
-
10:00
-
09:45
-
09:35
