This year’s hot air balloon festival in France — called Lorraine Mondial Air Ballons — featured a 408-balloon mass ascension, breaking the world record of the most balloons ascended simultaneously. Over a thousand international pilots and crew took part in multiple takeoffs within ten days of the gathering in Chambley.

See, and share, more photos from the Record-Breaking Balloons gallery and Hot Air Balloons Worldwide group.

Photos from Deckard..1953, Hocusfocus55, Stephane Tauziede, bga92, and steph-55.