Guyancourt, France

With a population of just under 30,000, Guyancourt is a quiet suburb in the Parisian commuter belt. While the town enjoys ample green space, the persistent bureaucratic headaches and the lingering trauma of the Franco-Prussian War suggest this is no idyllic rural escape. Locals were so terrorized by Prussian armies in 1870 that 400 fled their homes - an enormous figure for the time. Today, the town is home to several major corporations, but the vast majority of Guyancourtois are modest peasants struggling under conditions of famine, as the 1789 grievances registry reveals. For those seeking a well-connected, if somewhat austere, commuter town within striking distance of Paris, Guyancourt may be worth a look.