They also have a national police force (Gendarmerie nationale) that is sort of a border patrol. You see them at subway stations, train stations, airports, highways, etc.
At the national landmark sites like the Eiffel Tower or the Arch De Triomph, those are usually more elite units like paratroopers or sometimes even the Foreign Legion if there have been verifiable public threats.
There's some pictures here:
Thx ...
I’m glad you posted that, I actually just commented something similar myself.
Turns out the people I saw were actually soldiers based on the photos you posted, I thought they were gendarmes but their uniforms weren’t blue.
They aren’t armed. They’re carrying unloaded rifles. I only saw a single loaded magazine in the entire group of photos and no evidence it contains any bullets.
Sounds like the French version of Security Theater. I’d rather the French let their people be armed.