Fire guts Paris’s historic Enfants Rouges market, leaving traders devastated
A fire tore through the Marché des Enfants Rouges in central Paris early Monday, destroying the city’s oldest covered food market. The blaze gutted the market’s iron-and-glass roof and all 17 food stalls, but officials reported no deaths and only minor injuries to one firefighter. Vendors and residents described a sense of grief and abandonment, while Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the site had been completely destroyed.
The market dates to 1615, established under Louis XIII, and was named for a nearby 16th-century orphanage whose children wore red, then a sign of Christian charity. It sat on the northern edge of the Marais, drawing both Parisians and visitors.
Over 150 firefighters fought the early Monday blaze for more than two hours, officials said. The flames consumed a roof of iron and glass and all seventeen food stalls but did not spread to neighboring buildings. One firefighter sustained minor injuries; no other casualties were reported.
The loss could hit the market’s traders hardest, as their stalls and daily income vanished with the fire. Residents and visitors may mourn a familiar social and culinary landmark, while nearby cafes and shops could see changed foot traffic. Recovery may take time, and the site’s future use could become a sensitive question for the neighborhood.