Paris: About 38,000 people protested across France on Saturday, the interior ministry said, two days before vaccination makes health passes mandatory for participation in public life.
Starting Monday, people aged 16 and over must demonstrate that they have been jawed to access restaurants or bars, leisure activities, or use inter-regional public transport.
Apart from access to health services, a negative COVID test will no longer suffice.
Opponents of the policy say the reinforced measures would impact daily "freedom" and have raided against a form of social "apartheid".
The ministry said an estimated 5,200 demonstrated in Paris, with rallies largely attended by nationalists, supporters of EU presidential candidate Florian Philippe.
Some of the demonstrators brought their children along and many of those marching did not wear masks as they waved French flags and banners demanding "freedom".
"Vaccine Passed -- Total Resistance!" Some shouted in March.
Sophie, a 44-year-old legal worker, and Frank, a 56-year-old IT worker, told AFP they had their jabs, but were against forcing their daughter to get vaccinated as well.
Sophie insists that two years into the pandemic the time has come to believe in collective immunity.
In Bordeaux in the southwest, Annale, a nurse, described compulsory vaccination as "shameful".
"People who have been vaccinated get sick, so what's the point?" He asked.
Although the size of the protests has dwindled in recent weeks, one staunch is angered at French President Emmanuel Macron, who has made it clear he wants to pressure them until he accepts a coronavirus shot. Huh.