“Firefighters of Paris, doctors, surgeons, police forces, soldiers, rescue workers,” entertainer Nikos Aliagas addressed the crowd, adding several other categories of workers such as bomb experts to the list, calling them the “humble heroes of our country”.

“We are proud of you and we express our gratitude,” he said.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo told the gathering: “On the cusp of this new year, I want to share with you my confidence and tell you the pride I feel working alongside you. Paris is very lucky to be able to count on you. We will never forget it.”

The coordinated series of gun and bomb attacks at several sites in Paris, including the Bataclan concert hall, left 130 dead.

Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Health Minister Marisol Touraine also attended the event, as well as the head of Paris hospitals, Martin Hirsch.

(French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, French Minister for Social Affairs, Health and Women's Rights Marisol Touraine and the director of the state-run Paris hospitals (AP-HP) Martin Hirsch take part a minute of silence. AFP)

The stage then was given over to singers including Zaz, Benabar and Jane, before the hall burst into an improvised rendition of “La Marseillaise” a cappella.

The broadcast was viewed by some three million people nationwide.