Tobacco must disappear where there are children, says Health Minister Catherine Vautri to the newspaper Ouest-France.
Those who violate the ban will be fined 135 euros, around 1,500 Swedish kronor.
However, the ban does not apply to outdoor seating areas at cafes, restaurants and bars where many French people like to have a smoke. Nor do e-cigarettes fall under the ban.
France is one of the European countries with the highest proportion of smokers. Every year, around 75,000 people die from tobacco-related diseases, according to BBC.
Previously, there are local regulations that prohibit smoking on beaches and other public places.
According to an opinion poll, 62 percent of the French support smoking bans in public places.
