Sablé-sur-Sarthe

Sablé-sur-Sarthe lies where a castle overlooks the Sarthe and the town's river crossing. The medieval stronghold stood between Maine and Anjou, while the river connected its market to the towns downstream. In 1711 Jean-Baptiste Colbert de Torcy, foreign minister under Louis XIV, purchased the marquisate of Sablé. He replaced the old fortress with a grand residence on the same commanding site. The new château reflected the ambitions of a royal minister, while the town continued to grow beside the river below.