Their story.
The Jean-Pierre Bisbal Esplanade: At the Heart of Le Luc’s History and the Liberation
Located in the heart of Le Luc-en-Provence, right in front of the majestic Château des Vintimille (which now houses the media library and the Municipal Stamp Museum), the Bisbal Esplanade is a central hub of life in Le Luc. While the name is familiar to residents, its origin has sometimes been a source of confusion, with some mistakenly believing it to be the name of a Spanish sister city. However, the commemorative plaques on the town’s walls tell a very different story—that of a young man’s sacrifice for freedom.
Who was Jean-Pierre Bisbal?
Jean-Pierre Bisbal was born on November 23, 1924, on the other side of the Mediterranean, in Algiers. After enlisting in the French Army, he joined the 2nd Cuirassier Regiment, a unit attached to the glorious 1st Armored Division (1st DB) that landed in Provence in August 1944 to drive out the Nazi occupiers. He was just a private second class, barely 19 years old. Jean-Pierre was part of the crew of a battle tank named the "Tonnerre", belonging to the 4th Squadron of the 2nd Cuirassiers. On August 17, 1944, during the fierce fighting for the liberation of Le Luc-en-Provence, the “Tonnerre” tank was hit. Jean-Pierre Bisbal fell in battle that day, alongside his brothers in arms who shared the tank’s crew compartment:
- Sergeant Maurice Bernin
- Corporal Roger Millerand
- Private Second Class Raymond Baclet
