Last Updated on July 7, 2025 by Karis Tavernier-Nicholas

One of the first things that comes to mind whenever I think of France are all the patisseries to be found in boulangeries throughout the country. But it’s one of these patisseries that stands out most of all – macarons. Gone in about two bites (no matter how much I try to stretch it out), these meringue-based little bites of heaven have only grown in popularity in recent years. Perhaps most famously, pastel macarons featured as part of the backdrop of Sofia Coppola’s 2006 film, Marie Antoinette. 

But while they’re always top of my bucket list of things I want to eat whenever visiting France, the history of the macaron and its origins remained elusive to me. In case you too are wondering, here’s a little history of the beloved patisserie.

Despite being synonymous with Paris and wealth, macarons are thought to have relatively humble beginnings. Believed to have originated from Italy, accounts on how they arrived and eventually grew popular in France differ. Originally, macarons didn’t look as we’re familiar with them today; they came individually, not in a sandwich, and lacked any filling.

Some say they were first introduced by Nuns in Nancy, France, where they had sought refuge; in fleeing persecution, they desperately needed to earn money and so came up with the idea of baking and selling macarons. Another popular legend suggests the arrival of macarons in France followed the arrival of Catherine de Medici. She arrived in France in 1533 following her marriage to Henry II of France, and it was said the Italian chef she brought along with her arrived with the recipe for macarons.

The macarons we’re perhaps more familiar with today first appeared in the 20th century. The double-shell macaron is thought to have first been introduced by Laudrée in the 1950s, the famed tea room widely popular with tourists and which you’ve no doubt seen appear on your Instagram or Pinterest feeds. As Laudrée’s website says, it quickly became a ‘symbol of French chic’.

The beloved macaron even has a national day! An idea from Pierre Hermé (the world-renowned pastry chef whose company’s namesake is beloved for its macarons), it’s celebrated annually on 20th March in France. On that national day, participating patisseries donate a percentage of their sales to charity, while others more daring attempt to make some themselves.

So, if you find yourself in France on 20th March, remember to indulge and enjoy some (read: a lot of) macarons – the whole country is!