Massive Fire Destroys 400-Year-Old Food Market, Leaves Historic Building in Ruins

Flames swept through Paris's Enfants Rouges market, destroying about 20 vendor stalls inside the historic market founded in 1615. It was the city's oldest covered food market.

A historic food market has been ravaged by flames as investigators search for the cause

The oldest covered food market in Paris, founded in 1615, was destroyed by a massive fire that destroyed 20 stalls.

The Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest indoor food market in Paris, caught fire in the early hours of Monday, October 12, destroying vendor stalls and a piece of local history.

The fire destroyed the market and about 20 traders lost their stalls, according to Ariel Ville, the mayor of central Paris.

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"The fire is under control, but the market is completely destroyed. Avoid the area around Rue de Bretagne," Wille said in a post in Aix on Monday morning.

"Nine hoses, including 2 high-powered ones, were needed to control the disaster," Brigade des Sapeurs-Pompiers de Paris (BSPP), the city's primary fire and rescue service, said in a post on X.

"150 firefighters mobilized tonight," Paris mayor Emmanuel Grégoire wrote in a post on X.

He added: "Investigations are underway to determine the cause of the fire."

"We find temporary locations for businesses so we can maintain all of their operations," the post reads.

Located in the Marais district of Paris in the 3rd arrondissement, this market was founded in 1615 during the reign of King Louis XIII.

The market is a popular destination for both tourists and locals, according to the City of Paris website, attracting people from all over the world.

According to the city's website, the name translates directly to "Red Children's Market," a name that comes from a nearby orphanage called the Hospice des Enfants Rouges, where children usually wore red.

Designated a historic monument in 1982, the market faced demolition in the 1990s when Mayor Jacques Chirac signed off on a plan to replace it with a parking lot, kindergarten and community center, The Guardian reported.

Before the demolition, the market housed restaurants where people could sit for a meal or a cocktail.

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A wide range of cuisines were offered, including Moroccan, Creole, Afro-Caribbean and Lebanese, as well as French and Italian, among others.

Although the market was not always food-oriented, it shifted to culinary vendors in the early 2000s, including butchers, cheesemakers, fishmongers and a variety of street food stands, according to the city's website.

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