PARIS, November 14: The famous Christmas market of Le Barcarès, one of the main attractions of the winter season in the south of France, was seriously damaged by a fire earlier this week. A massive fire broke out over the weekend at the Village de Noël Christmas market in Barcarès, a popular festival destination in France’s Pyrénées-Orientales region. The fire broke out in the restaurant and dining area of ​​the market at around 04:30 on the morning of November 11, 2023. The flames quickly spread over 3,000 square meters, igniting numerous gas cylinders and causing explosions. A total of 61 firefighters were dispatched to the scene and the fire was successfully taken under control as of 07:00. The fire destroyed seven large wooden chalets, four refrigerated trucks and four shipping containers used to store food.

The devastating incident has cast doubt on the opening of the Christmas market, which was originally planned for November 16. However, local officials assured the public that they were working diligently to open the market by next week.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, but the incident has raised concerns about the future of this year’s market season. Despite this disruption, organizers have vowed to work on recovery efforts and ensure the market can resume festive events as soon as possible. Local authorities are offering support to fire-affected businesses, many of which are preparing for the busy holiday season.

The Barcarès Christmas market is a beloved tradition, featuring dozens of wooden chalets selling handmade gifts, festive foods, and holiday-themed attractions. Its future depends on the rapid restoration of basic infrastructure, with the hope of opening it to the public in the coming weeks.