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During the second half of the 15th century, Langeais remained a strategic site. Charles VII’s son, Louis XI, therefore decided to build a castle there in face of hostilities from a group known as the League for the Public Weal, formed by dissidents from the high aristocracy. (Active members of the group included the Duke of Brittany, then still independent from France.) Work on the new château, situated at the eastern end of the rock spur, was at its height in 1465 and 1467. The task was supervised by Jean Bourré, one of the king’s faithful councillors, in collaboration with Jean Briçonnet, another royal servant, who was then the first Mayor of Tours. Meanwhile, in July 1466, the castle was granted to one of the king’s cousins, the Count of Dunois, son of the military commander who captured Orleans with Joan of Arc. Troubles with the League for the Public Weal died down. From 1468, however, Charles VII had to combat a far more dangerous enemy: the Duke of Burgundy, Charles the Bold. The building work came to a halt.
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