Unions, farmers, teachers, firefighters, students and rioters will join forces on Saturday to protest, among other things, the rising cost of living.
Roads have been blocked, rubbish bins set on fire and numerous unauthorised demonstrations held in several parts of the country during a turbulent morning.
Fire set at tourist office
In Marseille in southern France, a police station was attacked. Around lunchtime, protesters reportedly broke into the city hall and tried to barricade themselves inside, the newspaper Le Figaro writes.
A few hours later, AFP reported that masked protesters had set fire to a tourist office in Lyon.
Shortly after 4 p.m., the news agency reported that protesters had also stormed the city hall in Lille.
At least 100 arrested
At noon, Paris police announced that 100 people had been arrested and more than 500 checks had been carried out in the capital.
A planned march, approved by police, will set off from Place de la République in Paris at 2 p.m. Police reportedly used tear gas against the demonstrators.