[4] Additionally, within the city of Tours, there was a modern Saint-Libert chapel, constructed in 1980, designated for Catholic worship and located at 9 Rue du Clos-Saint-Libert.

The chapel features a beautiful wooden framework, rebuilt in the fifteenth century, with rafters forming twenty-seven oak trusses that resemble an inverted "ship's hull.

In addition to the chapel's foundations, other remnants of these ancient Late Roman Empire fortifications can be found at the Château de Tours, the Musée des Beaux-Arts, and along the streets of Port Feu Hugon and Petit Cupidon.

[10][8] It is proposed that this property exchange, for which the deed is no longer extant, constituted the first chapel of the Counts of Tours, situated in the vicinity of the Feu Hugon Tower [fr], which was likely their inaugural residence.

[8][12] This refuge, where the monks would have erected a chapel or reinforced an existing one, would have been exchanged once the danger had passed, with the understanding that Hugues l'Abbé held both the title of Abbot of Saint-Martin and Count of Tours.

The available evidence does not provide any insight into the existence and date of a potential oratory refuge constructed during the Low Empire period (between the 5th and 6th centuries) by the monks of Saint-Martin and Marmoutier (where Libert is believed to have lived).

Modern excavations have not yielded sufficient evidence to formally support the hypothesis, as they did not reveal significant remains of earlier constructions suggested by historians.

[14] Given the Romanesque architectural style of the extant chapel, it can be reasonably inferred that this is the same edifice, which would have undergone reconstruction at some point between its initial construction and the present.

[16] The chapel was initially sold to the Chaslon family, proprietors of France's most substantial saltpeter factory situated in the Touraine region,[17] who also exploited the Hugon Tower [fr] site.

In 1875, the chapel was leased by his heirs to a soft drinks manufacturer, subsequently to a liqueur producer, and ultimately to a canned food factory, which purchased the property in 1922.

The rescue of the chapel, which had not been subject to any protection measures since its 1946 registration,[2] commenced in the second half of 2011 with preliminary operations, an archaeological diagnostic,[22] as well as viability work, and the clearance of the area.

This resulted in the demolition of the derelict structure, which was owned by the municipality and situated on the parvise of the chapel, as well as part of the northern shed roof.

At the outset of the project, a backhoe was employed to dislodge the working slab of the old saltpeter factory, thereby facilitating the archaeologists' ability to remove approximately two meters of accumulated fill[7] and expose the original floor level of the chapel.

The necessity to expand circulation routes and safeguard against flooding, coupled with the redevelopment of the Loire wharves in the 18th and 19th centuries, resulted in the alignment of residential properties and extensive fills that had notably covered the chapel's floor and forecourt, significantly raising its level.

Upon examination, a considerable number of fragments of faience and ceramics (approximately 2,500 shards) were discovered,[27] providing evidence of nearby artisanal activity and enabling the various stratifications to be dated.

[28] The initial phase of the excavations permitted specialists from the General Council to establish a preliminary archaeological diagnosis, described as preventive, of the chapel[27] and its forecourt.

The rediscovered altar, which appears to have been in situ since time immemorial, along with the bases of two columns predating the 12th century, a trace indicating the beginning of the apse, from which the chapel has been truncated, and a particularly noteworthy 90 cm tall bishop statue, apparently buried there ritually in the 15th century, lying on its back,[34][35] missing its head and hands, provide compelling evidence for this assertion.

[34] In addition to the ancient and medieval foundations, the bishop statue, a ring unearthed during the diagnostic phase,[38] and the unexpected graves, the other noteworthy discovery from the excavations was the remains of a bell foundry.

The industrial use of the site resulted in the remaining of a boiler base,[24] which was likely from the cannery, as well as notable damage to the interior walls that were directly utilized for saltpeter production.

The building was designed to include a meeting space and offices, a workspace for researchers with storage possibilities, and the capacity to host cultural events.

The most significant archaeological discoveries will be safeguarded beneath contemporary glass protection and accessible to the public, including the bell foundry and the Gallo-Roman wall.

[39] Additionally, the project received financial contributions from the State and Parliamentary Reserve (€150,000), the Indre-et-Loire Departmental Council and the city of Tours (in-kind support), corporate sponsorships (€270,000), and public subscriptions,[42] including donations from passionate individuals, occasionally anonymous.

[24] From mid-2013 onwards, the entire building underwent a series of essential treatments and reconstructions, including the replacement of windows, modillions, and buttresses, as well as the restoration and completion of the roof.

With interior finishes (tiling and painting) and the enhancement of the exterior restored Gallo-Roman remains by the directives of the French Historic Buildings Architect, the rehabilitation concluded with the installation of modern thermoformed stained glass windows by Jacques Loire [fr][Note 10] in the crossings in early May 2015.

In addition to offices, mezzanine galleries have been constructed on the north side, comprising two levels, for the storage of the SAT's collection of 13,000 glass plates.

Furthermore, the chapel has been transformed into a contemporary venue that can be leased for a variety of purposes, including conferences, exhibitions, concerts, and other cultural events.

The chapel offers 150 seats in an architectural space imbued with history, benefiting from the unique resonance of the ancient stones and the soft light emanating from the banks of the Loire.

[42][52] In light of the comprehensive restoration undertaken, the potential for renovating the lavishly embellished south facade, which currently overlooks a private garden, merits consideration.

This renovation could encompass the construction of an English courtyard to reveal the original ground level, thereby restoring access via the central side portal.

[53] In December 2012, the Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters of Touraine [fr] bestowed its annual accolade upon the SAT in recognition of its endeavors in the preservation of the Saint-Libert Chapel.