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Marché des Enfants Rouges fire destroys Paris's oldest covered food market
A marché des enfants rouges fire overnight from Sunday to Monday completely destroyed the Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges in Paris's Marais district, authorities said. The cause remains unknown.
By Haut Monde Post
• October 12, 2026
• 2 Min Read
Firefighters who reached the Marché Couvert des Enfants Rouges in the early hours of Monday morning found little left to save. Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier told reporters on site that nothing remained of the covered market, whose metal structure had partially collapsed inside. One firefighter was lightly injured in the blaze, he said.
"Nothing remains of the covered market."
A market dating to 1615
The destroyed structure stood in the Marais district of central Paris and had existed since 1615, making it the city's oldest covered food market. Its name came from the red outfits worn by orphans at a hospital near the market until 1772.
The marché des enfants rouges fire also cost the city one of its best-known eating spots. The market was a popular street food venue, and Food & Wine ranked it fifth worldwide for street food this year, behind eating spots in London, Bangkok, Lyon and Mexico City.
Damage contained to the market
Ariel Weil, mayor of the central Paris district, said he was relieved the blaze was under control and would not spread further. According to the mayor, the worst had been avoided and no neighbouring buildings had been affected.
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
