Croissants are thought to have originated in Austria. In 1683 when the Turks were secretly digging tunnels under Vienna to make a surprise attack on the city they were heard by bakers working early in the morning. The bakers who raised the alarm and saved Vienna from being defeated by the Turks then baked a special commemorative roll in the shape of the crescent, as seen on the Turkish flg. Marie Antoinette introduced the roll to France where it became known as the croissant, the French word for crescent.