Fire destroys Paris' oldest covered food market, Marché des Enfants Rouges

The Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered food market in Paris, was destroyed by a fire that broke out in the early hours of Monday, Oct. 12. Ariel Weil, the mayor of central Paris, stated that the blaze left the historic site in ruins and forced approximately 20 merchants to lose their stalls.

Firefighters responded to the incident around 3 a.m. and worked for several hours to extinguish the flames, according to Reuters. The Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (BSPP), the city's primary fire and rescue service, reported that 150 firefighters were mobilized for the operation. The service noted that nine hoses, including two high-powered units, were required to bring the disaster under control.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire expressed gratitude to the emergency responders on X and confirmed that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the fire. Weil posted on X that the area around Rue de Bretagne should be avoided while the site remains devastated.

The market is located in the Marais district of Paris, within the city's 3rd arrondissement. Founded in 1615 during the reign of King Louis XIII, it was designated a historic monument in 1982. The name translates to "Market of the Red Children," a reference to a nearby orphanage, the Hospice des Enfants Rouges, where children typically wore red clothing.

Weil indicated that temporary locations will be found for the affected businesses to maintain their activities. Before the fire, the market served as a popular destination for tourists and locals alike. It housed restaurants offering sit-down meals and cocktails, with cuisines ranging from Moroccan and Creole to Afro-Caribbean, Lebanese, French and Italian.

The site's focus shifted in the early 2000s to center around culinary vendors, including butchers, cheesemakers, fishmongers and street food stalls. The market had previously faced threats; in the 1990s, Mayor Jacques Chirac signed off on plans to replace it with a parking lot, a daycare facility and a community center, according to The Guardian.