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Fire destroys French capital’s ‘Enfants Rouges’ covered food market

By Thomson Reuters Oct 12, 2026 | 4:05 AM

PARIS, Oct 12 (Reuters) – A fire tore through Paris’ oldest covered ​food market ‌in the early hours of Monday, authorities said, destroying the historic site ‌popular ​with tourists.

• ⁠Ariel Weil, the ⁠mayor of Central Paris, said the Marché des Enfants Rouges had ​been “totally destroyed”

• The market was established ⁠in 1615 ⁠during the reign ​of Louis XIII in ​the upscale Marais district. It ‌took its name from a nearby orphanage whose children wore ⁠red clothing

• The fire broke out at about 3 ⁠a.m. (0100 ‌GMT), French media ⁠reported. Firefighters ​were ‌still tamping down the ​smouldering ⁠ruins several hours later

• The cause of the fire is not yet known

(Editing by Kirsten ​Donovan)