If you live in Paris, it’s easy to become insular, and, psychologically at least, the Périphérique doesn’t help matters. Don’t be. Transport links with the suburbs are generally good and there are a number of outstanding sites to lure you beyond the confines of Département 75 for an afternoon or a day-trip. They include not only some of France’s finest châteaux , but also locations such as Auvers-sur-Oise, Giverny and Barbizon, with their unique artistic heritage. Meanwhile, the World Heritage town of Provins and, right on the city’s doorstep, the Basilique St-Denis are serious historical big-hitters; medievalists will be in their element.