Fire Completely Destroys Paris’s Oldest Covered Market

A fire overnight on Monday completely destroyed the Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges, recognized as the capital’s oldest covered food market. Authorities have stated that the cause of the blaze is still unknown.

Located in the Marais district, the historic market dates back to 1615. It derives its name from the red garments worn by orphans at a nearby hospital until the year 1772. The venue is a popular street food destination, ranking fifth worldwide in Food & Wine’s global street food list for this year, trailing only locations in London, Bangkok, Lyon, and Mexico City.

Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier informed reporters at the scene in the early hours of Monday that the structure had been entirely consumed. “The market was completely destroyed,” de Bouvier said, noting that the metal framework had partially collapsed inside. “Nothing remains of the covered market,” he added.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries during the incident. Despite the total loss of the building, Ariel Weil, the mayor of the central Paris district, expressed relief that the emergency was contained. He confirmed that neighboring structures were unaffected, stating, “The worst has been avoided. No neighbouring buildings have been affected.”