The capital of France is one of the most popular city destinations in the world. Certainly, the City of Lights ranks in the upper echelon with New York City and London. But once you exhaust yourself with the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Notre Dame, Sacré Coeur, Quartier Latin, Moulin Rouge, Bois de Boulogne and Champs-élysées, what will you do? Where will you venture from there?

For many, the answer is to find respite in Les Banlieues. Otherwise known as the suburbs, the outskirts of Paris, while not replete with monuments on every corner, nonetheless hold tremendous appeal. In addition to fine landmarks and historic sites, they contain some of the most pictorial scenery in metro Paris.

The affluent suburb of Versailles is home to over 85,000 people. For tourists however, the name is synonymous with the Château de Versailles. Perhaps the most awesome symbol of royal supremacy ever built, the grand vision of Louis XIV is a unforgettable. With myriad halls, treasures, apartments, chapels and 8 km² of landscaped gardens, the former Sun King's palace is truly a marvel. If you manage to pull yourself away from the Château, try to head into Versailles for a walk around the beautiful town.

Almost as flamboyant as Versailles in scope, the majestic Château de Fontainebleau is a mere 56 km from Paris. The present-day structure evolved over the course of monarchical reigns that date as far back as the 12th century. The palace complex sits on the picturesque Forest of Fontainebleau.

The quaint commune of Rambouillet is 44 km from Paris and draws tourists primarily to the Château de Rambouillet. The former summer residence of Louis XVI and current Presidents of France, the original structure dates back to 1368.

A 96 km drive southwest of France, the rural commune of Chartres has a beautiful cathedral and several historic monuments and museums.

The Cistercian abbey of Royaumont was built in the 13th century and is a remarkable tourist attraction. The site contains several royal tombs and important cultural landmarks.

The commune of Chantilly is close to downtown Paris but feels farther than the 38 km drive. The home of Chantilly lace and cream, the town has a phenomenal 16th century palace in the central square.

The foremost blues and jazz festival in and around Paris, Banlieues Bleues takes the Seine-Saint-Denis suburb by storm every March.

The commune of Créteil in southeastern Paris hosts a contemporary dance and theatre festival in the month of March.

A fine array of food, wine and local products, in addition to music and dance, is on display every April and May at the Foire du Trône, a traditional country fair that dates back over a thousand years. The event still has massive appeal today, with millions of visitors in regular attendance at Bois de Vincennes, a massive 10 km² park outside of Paris which hosts many festivals throughout the year.

With a moderate oceanic climate, Paris and the city suburbs receive mild temperature fluctuations from one season to the next. As such, heat waves in summer and cold spells in winter are rare.

• Winter (December to February) 2.5-8°C

• Spring (March to April) 5-15°C

• Summer (May to September) 10.5-24.5°C

• Fall (October to November) 5-16°C