Historic Paris market is 'completely destroyed' by fire

Published: 07:26 EDT, 12 October 2026 | Updated: 07:26 EDT, 12 October 2026 A fire has 'completely destroyed' Paris's oldest covered food market. The Marche Couvert des Enfants Rouges in the Haut Marais district has existed since 1615, but was reduced to ashes overnight from Sunday to Monday, officials said. Lieutenant Colonel Pierre de Bouvier told reporters on site in the early hours of the morning: 'Nothing remains of the covered market'.He added that its metal structure had 'partially collapsed' inside.The mayor of the central Paris district, Ariel Weil, said he was relieved the fire was under control and would not spread further.'The worst has been avoided,' he said. 'No neighbouring buildings have been affected.'Photos from the scene showed a huge tower of smoke billowing into the night sky over Paris. Inside, some 150 firefighters desperately tried to battle the blaze. One of these firefighters suffered minor injuries. The Marche Couvert des Enfants Rouges in the Marais district has existed since 1615, but was reduced to ashes overnight from Sunday to Monday French firefighters conduct safety operations at the Marche des Enfants Rouges market in central Paris after it was destroyed by a fire, in Paris, France, October 12, 2026The cause of the fire is not currently known. Emergency calls were made from 4.15am this morning. Mr Weil said of the market: 'There’s a lot of emotion and grief, but also a sense that we’ve escaped the worst.'We have the fire under control, so it won’t spread beyond the covered market', he said in the early hours of the morning. The market was founded under the reign of King Louis XIII, and draws its name from the red outfits that orphans wore at a hospital near the market until 1772. Following the hospital's closure, the market was named in its memory at the end of the 18th century. At the time, it held a well, butchers' stalls and a stable to supply Parisians with fresh milk. It was listed as a historic monument in 1982, and narrowly avoided being turned into a multi-storey car park in the 1990s. Following six years of restoration work, a new market was reopened in 2000. Around 150 firefighters were sent to deal with the fire at the historic market The market has been in Paris since the 17th century There, restaurateurs, dairy vendors, caterers, florists and wine merchants flogged their wares to locals and tourists alike. It became famous for hosting international food stalls in the plush Haut Marais district. Just this year, American magazine Food & Wine ranked it fifth worldwide for street food, just a few places behind London's Borough Market and Bangkok's Chatuchak Market.