In pictures: French landmarks damaged and destroyed by violent protesters

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Most of the protesters were peaceful in expressing their opposition to rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools.

But others – dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas – set fire to cars, shops and buildings.

The scale of the destruction – including to some iconic landmarks – has shocked many in a country used to street protests.

The damage in the capital city is extensive. Shop fronts have been broken and stores looted.

The iconic Place de la Republique was vandalised, too.

A yellow vest – representative of the movement which helped co-ordinate the weekend protests – was draped around the body of the Statue of the Republic, erected in 1883.

Groups of rioters, some dressed in black and wearing masks and balaclavas, took over parts of the capital and wreaked havoc.

Tear gas and stun grenades were fired at hundreds of people but police struggled to contain smaller groups of people roving around the city attack businesses.

The full extent of the damage did not become clear until dawn broke on Sunday.

Further south in Marseille, protesters broke into the city hall by using a metal fence as a battering ram.

A bust of Marianne – symbol of the French Republic – was damaged and knocked to the floor in Marseille as people ransacked the building.

City Mayor Benoît Payan was furious with the "almost total lack of control" by the security forces.

"The world's sixth largest power does not deserve this. The world is watching us, this morning we are the shame of Europe," he said.

In the city of Lyon, Mayor Grégory Doucet said the burning of the city's tourist office, housed in a 19th Century building, was "a tragedy".

Chaos around the tourist office in Lyon as flames engulf itFire crews also battled a fire at Limoges town hall, which caused part of the building to collapse. Local officials said the town hall was "largely lost".

"A wild horde" had "deliberately" set fire to the 143-year-old building, said Maurice Barate, the prefect for the Haute-Vienne department.

French authorities have admitted they lost control of cities to the protesters.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation – which has been rejected.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has given local mayors the power to introduce partial curfews in some parts of the country, which he says is designed to protect people and businesses.

But the French are holding their breath – in anticipation of another chapter in this protest next Saturday.