Historic Paris Market Reduced to Ashes by Overnight Fire

A devastating fire has completely destroyed the Marche Couvert des Enfants Rouges, Paris's oldest covered food market, officials reported Monday. The historic market, which has been in operation since 1615, was reduced to ashes overnight from Sunday to Monday in the Haut Marais district.

Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier stated at the scene in the early hours of the morning that "Nothing remains of the covered market," adding that its metal structure had partially collapsed. The mayor of the central Paris district, Ariel Weil, expressed relief that the fire was under control and had not spread to neighboring buildings, saying, "The worst has been avoided."

Photos from the scene depicted a massive plume of smoke rising into the night sky over Paris as approximately 150 firefighters battled the blaze. One firefighter sustained minor injuries.

The cause of the fire remains unknown. Emergency services received calls reporting the fire starting around 4:15 a.m. on Monday.

"There’s a lot of emotion and grief, but also a sense that we’ve escaped the worst," Mayor Weil commented early Monday morning. "We have the fire under control, so it won’t spread beyond the covered market."

Founded during the reign of King Louis XIII, the market derives its name from the red outfits worn by orphans at a nearby hospital until 1772. Following the hospital's closure, the market was named in its memory in the late 18th century. At that time, it included a well, butcher stalls, and a stable.

The market was designated a historic monument in 1982 and narrowly escaped being converted into a multi-story car park in the 1990s. After undergoing six years of restoration, it reopened in 2000.

In recent years, the Marche Couvert des Enfants Rouges has become renowned for its international food stalls, attracting both locals and tourists. In 2026, American magazine Food & Wine ranked it fifth globally for street food.