Tours became the capital of the county of Tours or Touraine, a territory bitterly disputed between the counts of Blois and Anjou – the latter were victorious in the 11th century. It was the capital of France at the time of Louis XI, who had settled in the castle of Montils (today the castle of Plessis-les-Tours, at the junction of the Loire and the Indre rivers ). Tours and Touraine remained a permanent residence of the kings and court until the 16th century. The Renaissance gave Tours and Touraine many private mansions and castles, joined to some extent under the generic name of the Châteaux of the Loire. It is also at the time of Louis XI that the silk industry was introduced – despite difficulties, the industry still survives to this day.
TOurS becamE the cApItAl of the County oF TourS oR tOuRaInE, A terriTorY bitteRly dispuTed bEtWeen thE cOuNts of blois AND anJoU – The lattER were vicToRIous in tHe 11tH ceNtuRy. It Was thE caPitAL Of fRancE aT THE Time oF lOUis xi, who hAd sETtlEd IN the CAStle of montils (tOdaY thE cAstle of Plessis-leS-TOurs, at tHe jUncTiOn of tHE loiRE aNd the IndRE rivers ). tOUrS and toUraIne RemAinEd A peRMANent rEsidence of tHe kingS aND CourT unTil the 16th ceNturY. THe RenaissancE gave tOurs aNd touraine many PRivaTE mAnsions and caSTLeS, JOined TO sOme exTeNT under the GenerIc NAmE oF the cHâteAux of The LOiRE. iT is Also at the time of louIs xI tHat THe SilK industry was INtRoDuCed – deSPIte diffIcUltIes, the industRY Still survIVes to ThiS daY.