Fire destroys Paris’s 17th-century Marché des Enfants Rouges

A fire that broke out around 3 a.m. on 12 October completely destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris’s oldest covered food market. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierre de Bouvier of the Paris fire service said nothing remained of the covered market and that its metal structure had partially collapsed. More than 150 firefighters and about 50 vehicles responded after the call at 4:15 a.m. The flames were brought under control within roughly two hours. One firefighter suffered minor injuries. No serious civilian injuries were reported, and the fire did not spread to surrounding buildings.

Central Paris mayor Ariel Weil said the market had been totally destroyed and that about 17 to 20 traders lost their stalls. He noted that the worst had been avoided because neighbouring buildings were spared. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said part of the city’s history had gone up in smoke and that temporary locations would be found so businesses could continue. An investigation into the cause is underway.

The market opened in 1615 under Louis XIII on what is now Rue de Bretagne in the 3rd arrondissement. It took its name from the nearby Hospice des Enfants Rouges, founded in 1536 by Francis I and Marguerite de Navarre; the orphan children were dressed in red. The orphanage closed in 1772 and the market name remained. It was declared a historical monument in 1982 after surviving earlier threats of demolition. Food & Wine ranked it fifth worldwide for street food this year.

Locals and tourists used the market daily for produce, cheese, prepared food and street-food stalls. Residents opposite the site reported being woken by noise and flames higher than the rooftops. A thick layer of firefighting foam covered the pavement by morning; the main metal gate survived. The nearby Jardin Madeleine de Scudéry and Square du Temple were temporarily closed.

The blaze removes a 400-year-old commercial and social site from the Marais. Traders face the immediate task of relocating while investigators examine the origin of the fire. The concrete record is the overnight destruction of the structure and stalls, the firefighter response numbers, the absence of major injuries and the confirmation that neighbouring buildings were protected.