During the Hundred Years’ War, in order to defend the kingdom of France against the advance of the English, the wooden castle of Villarceaux was succeeded by a real stone fortress. Its square enclosure was flanked by four towers and a wide walkway on the ramparts. The only vestige of this period, the Saint-Nicolas tower, was completely restored about ten years ago. In the 15th century, the upper part of the tower housed a dovecote with 300 ‘boulins’ (nests), and an oratory dedicated to St Nicolas. In the cellar, a fresh water source provided the castle with plenty of water, which came in very handy during a siege.