French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed "anger and shame" over violent unrest that swept across France, describing rioters' actions as attempts "to bring down the republic."

In a televised address to the nation on Sunday, Macron promised that rioters and looters would "pay for their crimes," following what observers described as some of the worst urban violence in France in years.

The country's Interior Ministry said nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, with around 1,000 police and gendarmes injured.

Macron called for a distinction between protesters with "legitimate demands" and "those who destroyed, smashed, and looted." He pledged to launch a "crisis unit" to provide "urgent aid for those who are going through difficult moments."

"We need to be clear: yesterday, our law enforcement officers and officials, despite their professionalism, were subjected to unprecedented violence in several cities," Macron said.

"I've asked the government to provide all the lessons learned and to be able to anticipate it to make sure that this does not happen again," he added. "We need unity, we need calm and respect."

The president promised to increase security measures but stopped short of announcing a state of emergency or curfew.

He said "lessons will be learned" following the weekend's destructive violence, though his address drew skepticism from some quarters. Reporting from Paris, a correspondent noted that Macron's speech had "perhaps no surprises," adding: "Whether it's going to be enough to placate some people, I'm not really sure, because those who have been out protesting say they're fed up of hearing these sorts of speeches by the French president."

The unrest is rapidly becoming a political flashpoint ahead of presidential elections next year.

Left-wing presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon said the French government is "solely responsible" for the destruction during protests and has "failed to organise the maintenance of public order."

Far-right presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella called Macron's Sunday speech "lamentable" and "cowardly," saying the government has nothing left to offer the French people and "cannot even protect them."