50th Anniversary of Compulsory Teaching of the Monegasque Language

In order to preserve identity and linguistic heritage, Prince Rainier III decided in 1976 to make the teaching of Monegasque compulsory in Monaco’s public primary schools. As early as 1960, the abbot and poet Louis Frolla contributed to defining the language by publishing a Monegasque grammar, followed by a French–Monegasque dictionary in 1963. One man stood out in the practical implementation of the teaching: Canon Georges Franzi, who, with its legendary determination, immediately organised the courses. He was the first teacher of Monegasque and worked tirelessly to develop the first school textbooks in the Monegasque language.