Adieu aux ‘Enfants Rouges’: Tears and shock as fire destroys Paris’s oldest covered food market

New Yorkers Lorrie and Ricky so enjoyed discovering the Marché des Enfants Rouges (Red children’s market) a few days ago, that they decided to pay another visit to its celebrated food stalls before leaving the French capital. But when they approached the centuries-old venue on Monday morning, they were greeted by police cordons, fire trucks and a foul, acrid smell hanging over this picturesque neighbourhood in central Paris. “It was such a lovely place, so charming – and now it’s gone,” said Ricky, gazing at the blackened entrance to the Enfants Rouges. “It’s tragic.” Read moreFire destroys Paris's oldest covered food market A spectacular blaze tore through the iconic covered market overnight, gutting its iron and glass roof and torching all 17 food stalls. Video footage on social media showed huge flames and billowing smoke rising above the venue, hemmed in between buildings on the northern edge of the Marais district popular with tourists. More than 150 firefighters were mobilised to tackle the blaze. © Sarah Meyssonnier, Reuters After touring the site, Paris Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire said the market had been “completely destroyed”. He thanked firefighters who battled the blaze for...