PURPOSE: To provide a baking furnace, capable of shortening of a baking time as well as effecting of strict atmosphere control and having an excellent area productivity.

CONSTITUTION: A baking furnace is provided with a core tube transferring passage 7, formed in a furnace body 1 and having a long loop configuration whose one end of widthwise direction is opened at least, a baking chamber 9, formed at a predetermined position in the core tube transferring passage 7, and a core tube transferring mechanism 2, transferring horizontally the core tubes 30, storing substance to be baked, along the core tube transferring passage 7 while retaining the ends thereof at the outside of the widthwise direction of the core tube transferring passage 7.