FIRE DESTROYS PARIS'S OLDEST COVERED FOOD MARKET

A fire destroyed the Marché des Enfants Rouges, Paris's oldest covered food market, in the early hours of Monday, 12 October. The blaze broke out at around 4.15am in the Marais district, gutting the market's iron and glass roof and causing part of its metal structure to collapse. Firefighters spent more than two hours bringing the fire under control and prevented it from spreading to neighbouring buildings in the densely populated area. Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the market had been "completely destroyed" after touring the site. One firefighter suffered minor injuries, while no other casualties were reported. Traders gathered outside, many in tears, as they took in the damage to all 17 food stalls.

Founded in 1615 under Louis XIII, the market takes its name from a nearby orphanage whose children wore red clothing, and has been listed as a historic monument since 1982. It housed food shops, restaurants and florists, and was ranked fifth in Food & Wine magazine's 2026 list of the world's best food markets. The venue was popular with both local residents and tourists, sitting among cafes and boutiques on the northern edge of the Marais. Visitors who had been to the market days earlier described returning on Monday to find police cordons, fire engines and a burnt smell in place of the stalls they had enjoyed.

Grégoire said the cause of the fire remained unknown and that an investigation would follow. Nearby buildings were being checked for structural damage, and the city was seeking temporary premises for the traders affected. The market could remain closed for months, according to Euronews. Shopkeepers gathered on the pavement outside described feeling "orphaned" by the loss of the venue.