Firefighters had to rescue a mother and child from a burning building in Paris after it was set alight by "ultra violent" Yellow Vest protesters.
Some 64 people were arrested by early afternoon as protests turned violent yet again in the French capital.
Protesters set a bank on fire, forcing the rescue of a woman and her child. They also began looting shops on the Champs Elysees following clashes with police who fired water cannons at them.
Smoke bombs and bricks were launched at police who responded with water cannon fire during the 18th straight weekend of Yellow Vest protests in France.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said there were 7,000-8,000 demonstrators in Paris on Saturday of which 1,500 were "ultraviolent ones that are there to smash things up."
The ugly scenes blighted the streets of Paris as demonstrators clashed with authorities near the picturesque Arc de Triomphe.
Protesters later smashed their way into the high-end boutiques on the famous boulevard in the French capital. They had gathered outside branches of Cartier and a Mont Blanc store.
A fire was set outside a sandwich store on the Champs-Elysees and a burning vehicle was seen next to luxury boutique Kenzo nearby.
Boutiques including luxury brand Lacoste were smashed up, mannequins were thrown out of the broken windows, while a newsagent was set alight.
An eatery called Fouquet's, which is popular with politicians and celebrities, was also vandalised.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner ordered police to retaliate against "inadmissible" acts, as he condemned those who "call for violence and are here to sow chaos in Paris".
Numbers had dwindled in the protests, which began in response to a now cancelled fuel tax plan from Emmanuel Macron, and those in the movement hoped today's actions could reignite the fury against the government.
By mid-morning 20 people were already arrested as police deployed a heavy presence and shut streets in the capital in a bid to stem violence.
Protesters threw smoke bombs and other objects at officers along the Champs-Elysees and also started pounding on the windows of a police van.
This prompted riot police and a water cannon to retreat, with protesters kicking the side of the large truck, before it emerged to unleash bursts from a side street to push back protesters.
A burning vehicle was seen in a nearby area where another protest group gathered, wearing the symbolic yellow vests which French motorists must carry in their cars by law.
In prior weeks there have been multiple injuries and deaths linked to the action across France, with a man recently having four of his fingers ripped off his hand during violent scenes.
The action on Saturday marks the end of a two-month national debate President Macron organised to respond to the protesters' concerns, which centre upon their feelings his policies favour the wealthy.
Protesters dismissed the debate as empty words and a campaign ploy by President Macron for European Parliament elections in May.
Organisers said they want Saturday to serve as an "ultimatum" to "the government and the powerful."
