A fire largely destroyed Marché des Enfants Rouges, the historic market in central Paris

A fire that broke out overnight from Sunday into Monday largely destroyed Marché des Enfants Rouges, the oldest covered market in Paris. More than 150 firefighters, with approximately 50 fire engines, responded at the scene, and the flames were extinguished on Monday morning. The cause of the fire is not yet known.

The market is located in the Marais district, at 39 Rue de Bretagne, and has operated continuously since 1615. Its name comes from a nearby orphanage whose children wore red uniforms.

Marché des Enfants Rouges was one of the area’s major attractions, both for locals and tourists. It featured stalls selling cheese, fish, vegetables and flowers, as well as numerous stands offering Moroccan, Japanese, Lebanese, Italian and French dishes. The market was also known for its grilled sandwiches. Authorities are yet to determine the circumstances in which the fire broke out and the extent of the damage.