Marché des Enfants Rouges: Paris's Oldest Covered Market, Hours and Access

The Marché couvert des Enfants Rouges, at 39 rue de Bretagne in the 3rd arrondissement, is the oldest covered food market in Paris, open since 1615 according to the City of Paris. Listed as a historic monument in 1982, it brings together producers, traders and world-food stalls in the Marais. You can shop in the morning and eat lunch on the spot at shared tables.

Highlights

Paris's oldest covered market

Open since 1615, the market houses a hall of around twenty units: greengrocers (some organic), cheesemongers, butchers, fishmongers and a florist. It has been a listed historic monument since 1982.

The world-food stalls

You can lunch on French, Lebanese, Italian, Moroccan, Japanese or African dishes, to take away or eat at the shared tables. It is one of the Marais's good addresses for a simple, varied meal.

The origin of the name

The "enfants rouges" (red children) were the orphans dressed in red at a neighbouring hospital founded in 1536 by Marguerite de Navarre; the hospital closed in 1772 but the market has kept the name since the late 18th century.

Nearby

See on the map →

Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation In the upper Marais, the Henri Cartier-Bresson Foundation devotes its galleries to... 3 min walk

Picasso Museum: Tickets, Opening Hours, Prices and Access to the Hôtel Salé The Picasso Museum, housed in the Hôtel Salé in the Marais, is open Tuesday to Sunday... 5 min walk

Museum of Hunting and Nature In the Marais, the Museum of Hunting and Nature explores relationships between humans... 5 min walk

National Archives Museum (Hôtel de Soubise): free admission, opening hours and how to get there The National Archives Museum, housed in the Hôtel de Soubise in the Marais, is free and... 6 min walk