Tourists in Paris have been caught up in today's protests. Despite the disappointment of some landmarks being shut down, many of them don't have major concerns.

Aaron, who's travelling from Australia, tells the BBC he is "a little worried" about the demonstrations, but adds: "I still feel safe".

American Tim Haley says he didn't know how the protests would affect his family's visit to Paris, but they ultimately "didn't stop [us] from coming".

"It hasn't changed anything. We're going to go forward and explore the city," he says.

Anniek Neve and her family, however, haven't been so lucky. They had to make some last-minute changes after learning that the Arc de Triomphe had been shut down. "It's not for today," she says.

Main march peaceful, but some protesters bent on causing troublepublished at 15:08 BST 17 October

15:08 BST 17 October

Hugh Schofield
Paris correspondent

There is a clear contrast between the official demonstration, making its way from Place de la République to Place de Clichy – and what is happening here and there in the rest of Paris.

The main march seems to be peaceful. But around the capital there are small groups of protesters wandering about, some clearly bent on making trouble.

One group built a barricade of bicycles and crash barriers on Rue Beaubourg.

Another group has been on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré – the street on which the Élysée palace is situated.

It is reminiscent of the early days of the "yellow vest" movement eight years ago, when the violence of these small wildcat groups proved too much for the police.

Image source, Reuters

We've just heard from Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who leads France's left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI - France Unbowed).

"While the news channels flood us with images of violence in dozens of cities, everything is unfolding in calm with tens of thousands of people calmly mobilized. Two worlds, two realities," he writes on X.

"In Paris, a dense procession has been parading calmly for an hour along Boulevard Magenta. Young, active, flooded with handmade signs," he adds in a subsequent post.

Mélenchon has supported student demonstrations in recent weeks.

Kate Deegan, a teacher in France from the UK, tells our colleagues on the BBC News channel that students are “fed up” with long hours at school and the condition of their schools.

She says students hope what they describe as “peaceful protest” will “get the government to notice them”.

Deegan says conditions at her school are “great”, but her students still “want to protest in solidarity”.

The violence has been distressing, but Deegan says she is more concerned about the students’ safety than her own.

Students in France are disillusioned with politics, she says.

“I don't condone violence, it's not needed and doesn't spread the message, she says. "But I sympathise with the message - I can see why they're frustrated, and rightly so.”

Do these protests represent something deeper for France?published at 14:27 BST 17 October

14:27 BST 17 October

Hugh Schofield
Paris correspondent

The question that needs to be asked about the French protests is this: are they simply the latest iteration of the country’s regularly-expressed habit of on-street action, or is there something deeper and more significant happening?

On one level, the movement looks very like what has so often gone before: the cause, the march, the wrecking, the tear-gas, the arrests, the cries of police brutality.

It is a form of theatre with its pre-set scenes, and a final act that is played out when everyone feels they have had enough. Practically every autumn there is some issue or another in France that has followed this pattern.

But is there something different now? Something that could turn 2026-2027 into one of those epoch-defining moments like May 1968, or the Paris Commune of 1870, or the social revolutions of 1848 across Europe – when the protests really did usher in change?

The arguments for this view are real.

There is the incapacity of France’s centrist government to act. There is the failed experiment of 10 years of radical Macronism. There is the widespread disillusionment with politics-as-we-have-known it.

There is the debt crisis, which serious people are saying could lead to a French default. There is the inflation-induced impoverishment.

There is the rise of the extremes. There is war in Europe. There is Trump. There are France’s presidential elections in April/May.

The world is very unstable. Things are shifting.

We are now seeing pictures of police firing a water cannon at protesters in Paris, who can be seen shielding themselves.

Clashes between demonstrators and riot police have escalated throughout the day.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, AFP via Getty Images

A fire has broken out at the tourist office in Lyon, eastern France, amid protests.

Demonstrators set fire to the office, AFP news agency and local media report.

Pictures show protesters outside the smouldering building, with fires inside and out. Several windows have also been smashed.

Local police say "hostile individuals" are preventing firefighters from safely tackling the blaze, while police officers are working to "disperse the violent groups".

Katie Williams
Live reporter

Image source, Reuters

The main demonstration in Paris is now under way after a morning of clashes between police and protesters across France.

After weeks of student protests, a broad range of groups have joined forces across the country to demonstrate against a raft of issues, including the cost of living and rising fuel prices.

Demonstrators include the yellow vests - known for protesting against rising fuel prices - as well as trade unions and young people.

More than 160 people have been arrested across France today. The interior ministry says about 33,000 people took part in 140 separate actions across the country.

Damage to a police station has been reported in Marseille, where pictures also show flames and masked figures in the streets.

Tear gas has been used there and in Paris, where people have been seen throwing rocks as police in riot gear charge.

The French interior ministry accuses some protesters of trying to loot and attack police. But young people at the protest in Paris tell the BBC they are "pacifists" who are "just trying to make things change".

We will continue to follow the protests today. Stay with us.

Image source, AFP

Protesters briefly broke into Marseille City Hall after forcing their way through the front door.

Footage from the AFP news agency shows people using a metal fence as a battering ram to open the door, while a larger group of protesters, some wearing masks, watch.

Another clip shows people running inside the historic 17th-century building, before one person throws a chair, while another spray-paints an anarchist circle-A symbol on a wall.

Police intervened and dispersed the protesters. Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan said they caused “limited” damage, according to BFMTV.

Image source, AFP

James Waterhouse
Reporting from Paris

Image source, Getty Images

The nucleus of the demonstrations has firmly formed in Place de la République. Or “la convergence des luttes” as one protester put it; where different fights fuse together.

There is certainly a convergence of grievances here: public spending cuts, few job opportunities and a lack of financial support for French overseas territories.

The atmosphere is best described as a passionate party of views, but it hasn't stopped police periodically throwing tear gas grenades, which is antagonising the crowd.

We've just heard from some protesters on the streets of Paris, who have been speaking to our reporter on the ground.

Being at the demonstrations is "really important for us", one school pupil says, explaining that it is not only students out today, but workers too.

After weeks of student protests, the so-called "yellow vest" movement and unions have joined forces with young people in a broader demonstration against the cost of living and a deterioration in public services.

"Every generation" is out raising problems today, a second pupil tells the BBC, adding: "It really gives us strength to continue and be heard by the government".

Another says: "We're fighting against the rise of extreme politics. It's impossible to live in this situation."

A fourth describes the group as "pacifists", adding: "We're just tired of all this. We're just trying to make things change, but nothing is moving."

Part-way through the interview, the students begin covering their mouths as another round of tear gas is fired nearby.

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Image source, Reuters

It's now 14:00 in France (13:00 BST), and the main demonstration in Paris is getting under way.

Police and organisers disagreed on the planned route in the lead-up.

France's biggest union, the CGT, said yesterday that protesters would set off from the Place de la République.

So far this morning, there have been clashes at that location with tear gas deployed.

Hundreds of protesters have also gathered in other parts of the city, such as Gare du Nord.

Image source, Reuters

In an update on X, Paris police say: "We do not back down in the face of rioters and those who come to attack the law enforcement forces."

They accuse "hostile individuals" of targeting police, adding that officers are facing them "with courage and professionalism".

A video shared alongside the post shows protesters throwing rocks while police in riot gear charge.

What appears to be tear gas is also seen rising from the ground.

A major demonstration is scheduled to get under way in Paris in around 10 minutes, you can watch live above.

Image source, Yellow vests

A map published by the "yellow vests" - one of the leading organisations involved in today's protests - shows more than 800 demonstrations are expected across France.

Paris and Marseille have been key flashpoints so far, with police deploying tear gas.

Pictures from Marseille show items from looted stores burning on the road, while protesters in Paris have been seen throwing flares and other projectiles.

Masked protesters have also been pictured standing off against police officers in Strasbourg.

Shouts and bangs can be heard as tear gas is deployed at protests in Strasbourg.

Sirens can be heard in the background as police in riot gear charge past.

Tear gas has also been used in Paris and Marseille as protests across France intensify.

In an update shared with journalists, the French Ministry of the Interior says 140 separate actions involving almost 33,000 people have been recorded across France today.

It adds that 166 arrests have been made so far across the country.

"The movement is marked by a very strong mobilisation of far-left elements, whose sole intent is to incite disorder," the ministry says.

Demonstrations have involved "targeted acts of violence" from "hooded individuals" in areas like Paris, Marseille, Rennes, Toulouse and Angers, it adds.

It accuses some protesters of attempts at looting, attacks on police, starting fires and targeting government institutions, as well as damaging a police station in Marseille.

Security forces have responded "swiftly and decisively", it says, adding: "There is a very high probability that far-left elements will attempt to escalate the situation during this afternoon’s marches."

Earlier, we reported that Paris police had already made 40 arrests in the first few hours of the morning, "primarily for carrying weapons or prohibited protective gear".

We can now bring you a photo they shared alongside this update, which appears to show confiscated items.

Image source, Préfecture de Police

James Waterhouse
Reporting from Paris

Image source, James Waterhouse

Several hundred protesters have arrived at the Gare du Nord station.

Most are students who say they’re tired of a decade of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.

There are pockets of demonstrations throughout the city, with groups building blockades where they can.

For now, police seem to be observing from afar, but as the past few weeks have shown, that can soon change.

Adina Campbell
Reporting from Paris

Image source, Reuters

You can hear the thuds of tear gas being fired at the Place de la République, but it’s not doing much to deter the protesters.

They are booing back at police officers and waving the tear gas away.