Cars burned in French election protests

Protests have broken out in Paris after Emmanuel Macron and Marine Le Pen emerged winners of the first-round presidential vote.

French police have detained three people in election night protests. (AAP)

French police have detained three people in election night protests, as demonstrators burned cars, danced around bonfires and dodged riot police.

A Paris police official said no injuries were reported in scuffles between protesters and police at the Place de la Bastille.

Protesters waved red flags and sung "No Marine and No Macron!" in anger at the results of Sunday's first-round presidential election.

Later, around 300 people gathered at a peaceful protest at nearby Place de la Republique, waving red flags and dancing around the flames of a bonfire.

Some sang "Now burn your electoral cards" or "No Marine and No Macron!," referring to centrist Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who topped the first-round vote and will advance to the May 7 runoff.