Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye

Paris rarely if ever promotes historic sites outside its city boundaries - with one exception, Versailles.  You just have to discover them by yourself.  What visitor to Paris has heard of the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye, Saint-Cloud, Vincennes or Vaux-le-Vicomte?  All are within easy distance from Paris using public transport.  And they are all in (or immediately adjacent to) the countryside.  Excellent places to visit when Paris is suffering from overheating.

This castle has had a chequered history.  It was the birthplace of Louis XIV, the "Sun King".  Mary Queen of Scots lived here from the ages of 6 to 16; and the dethroned King James II of Britain lived here from 1688 until his death in 1701.