Oldest covered food market in Paris destroyed in fire

Paris' oldest covered food ‌market has been "completely destroyed” after a fire broke out in the early hours of Monday morning, authorities said.

The fire at the Marche des Enfants Rouges market, which opened in 1615, first broke out at about 3am (1am ​GMT), according to French media.

Later that morning, the fire was under control, but the cause is still unknown.

Popular with tourists and locals, the market is in the upscale Marais district, and hosts a mix of fruit and vegetable vendors, as well as food stalls.

Lieutenant-Colonel de Bouvier of the Paris Fire Brigade said "high flames were affecting the entire covered market" when his team arrived in the early hours of this morning.

"Nothing remains of the covered market," he said, with its metal structure inside also "partially collapsed".

The mayor of Paris Centre Ariel Weil announced the fire was under control, but said the market was "totally destroyed".

The fire had devastated the "hub of conviviality and dining in the heart of the capital", he added, warning people to avoid the surrounding area in the north of Marais.

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The market's name hails from the red clothes children from an orphanage nearby wore.

(c) Sky News 2026: Oldest covered food market in Paris destroyed in fire