SABLE  , a

town of western France, in the department of Sarthe, on the river Sarthe, 30 M . W.S.W. of Le Mans by rail . Pop . (1906) 4952 . Sable has a chateau of the 18th century, a fortified gateway, relic of a medieval stronghold, and a modern church with fine stained glass of the early 15th century . Its importance, however, is chiefly due to the marble quarries of the vicinity, the products of which are worked in the town, where flour-milling, the manufacture of farm-implements and trade in cattle are also carried on . A communal college is among the public institutions . From the 11th century Sable was the seat of a powerful barony, which in 1602 was made a duchy-peerage in favour of Urbain de Laval, marshal of France . The place afterwards came into the possession of Colbert de Torcy, nephew of the great Colbert who built the chateau . In 1488 a treaty which resulted in the union of France and Brittany was concluded at Sable, between Charles VIII. and Duke Francis II .