France is tightening security around its places of worship amid concerns about potential extremist violence during the festive season, reports Euronews.
It is just over a month since the Paris attacks claimed the lives of 130 people.
There are visibly more soldiers on the streets and in places where people are likely to gather.
Churches will only keep one door open to allow congregations to be filtered, while worshippers may be searched on entry.
Speaking after meeting representatives of the Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities in Paris, French interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve said everything is being done to ensure the festive season passes off as peacefully as possible.
“There are just under 300,000 police officers in our country," said Cazeneuve. "We have 77,000 schools, thousands of places of worship and thousands of official buildings. We will be able to ensure security by using mobile patrols and through the measures taken by the religious institutions themselves. Everything is being done to guarantee security.”
Cazeneuve has also said a terror plot in the Orléans region was foiled last week.
There are 45,000 Catholic churches in France, 4,000 Protestant churches and 150 Orthodox.
Security guards will be posted at the doors of religious buildings while some entrances may be closed to allow crowds to be filtered in.