The Marché des Enfants Rouges (Market of the Red Children) in Paris—a historic site dating back over 400 years and hailed as “Paris’s coolest market”—caught fire late on the 11th and into the early hours of the 12th. Flames engulfed approximately 1,000 square meters of the market, causing part of the metal structure to collapse and destroying 17 stalls. Fire authorities deployed over 150 firefighters and 50 fire trucks to battle the blaze; fortunately, the fire did not spread to surrounding buildings, and there were no serious casualties. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Located in the famous Marais district in the heart of Paris, this historic venue is the city’s oldest surviving indoor food market, attracting thousands of locals and tourists daily. By the morning of the 12th, only a charred skeleton remained of the market, and all entrances had been cordoned off.
Pierre de Bouvier, a lieutenant colonel with the Paris Fire Brigade, stated that the department received the alert around 4:15 a.m. By the time firefighters arrived, the fierce blaze had already consumed about 1,000 square meters of the market, causing metal structures to collapse and destroying 17 stalls. Describing the devastation at the scene, he bluntly stated, “Nothing is left.”
Founded in 1615 during the reign of King Louis XIII, the Marché des Enfants Rouges boasts a 411-year history. Its name derives from the nearby “Hospice des Enfants Rouges” (Hospice of the Red Children), an orphanage established in 1536 where the children customarily wore red clothing. After the orphanage closed in 1772, the market retained the name “Enfants Rouges” to commemorate the children who had lived there.
Although the market was designated a historical monument in 1982, it narrowly escaped demolition shortly thereafter; the Paris municipal government had planned to redevelop the site into facilities such as an underground parking garage, a move that sparked strong opposition from local residents. Local residents and members of the arts community launched a protest that garnered tens of thousands of signatures, ultimately succeeding in saving the market.
In the mid-1990s, the city government abandoned its demolition plans; instead, it invested 13 million francs and spent six years renovating the market, which reopened in 2000.
Following its renovation, the Marché des Enfants Rouges gradually transformed into a renowned culinary landmark in Paris.
While retaining traditional stalls selling produce, meat, cheese, and fish, the market also hosts over a dozen food vendors offering cuisines from France, Lebanon, Morocco, Japan, and beyond, making it a favorite dining spot for both locals and tourists.