Famous Monegasques
des Travaux Publics), where he stayed until 1943. As an engineer and architect, Notari took part in the creation of the Princess Antoinette Park, opened in 1923 and still loved by all Monegasque children; and the Exotic Garden, opened in 1933, which became one of the most popular tourist attractions in the Principality. Notari also supervised the drilling of the Louis II tunnel. Engineering, however, was only one of Louis Notari’ s many passions. « He was a very open person », recalls his grandson Frederic, who used to spend his summer holidays with his grandfather. « The first things that come to my mind when I think about my grandfather are the village and nature. He loved fishing, mountains and hunting. We talked about plants a lot ».
Louis Notari also played an important political role in Monaco as a member of the municipal council, and as state counselor from 1943 until his death.
Despite all of these accomplishments, it was in Monegasque literature that he became a pioneer. Notari was a talented poet and strived to develop the national Monegasque language, which was on the brink of extinction in the early 19th century. Louis Notari’ s literary career started back in 1927. That’ s when the Principality was seriously considering creating Monegasque grammar. During a Committee on Traditions’ meeting, Louis Notari mentioned the necessity of creating literary works in the national language, which Monaco had never seen published before. He was then invited to write a story about the patroness of the Principality, St. Devote. « The legend of Saint Devote », the first work
Official portrait of Louis Notari. 1946
in the native Monegasque language was written by Notari, earning him the nickname: « the father of Monegasque literature ». He later wrote the lyrics to the Monaco national anthem and « U Campanin de San Niculau ». This song is now part of Monegasque tradition and used to be a special song for Prince Rainier III, which was played during his funeral on April 15, 2005.
Notari penned three other books, including a collection of Monegasque tales « Bülüghe Munegasche » and « Quelques notes sur les traditions de Monaco »( Notes on Monaco traditions).
Louis Notari’ s Legacy
Notari’ s works promoted the flourishing of native Monegasque literature. In 1960, Louis Frolla wrote a grammar manual for the
Technical School for Engineers in Turin( Politecnico di Torino). 1901 – 1902
Monegasque language. And other local authors, including Louis Barral, followed with their own published works.
At the end of his life, Notari was awarded the Order of St. Charles, the highest state award of the Principality of Monaco. In 1960, Prince Rainier III came to Notari to present the award, as the poet could no longer walk due to his old age.
Louis Notari died in Monaco in 1961. He left an important legacy and would be glad to know that today the Monegasque language is studied in Monaco public schools as part of the mandatory curriculum.
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1980 году Монако отпраздновало столетие со дня рождения Луи Нотари большим культурным мероприятием с участием князя Ренье III и принцессы Грейс. Национальная библиотека и одна из улиц Княжества носят его имя. Чем же он заслужил такое внимание со стороны княжеской четы и всего монегасского народа? Чтобы ответить на этот вопрос, вернемся в конец XIX века.
Одна из древнейших семей в Монако
По материнской линии Луи Нотари, родившийся в 1879 году, принадлежал к роду Кроветто( Crovetto), одной из древнейших семей Монако. На сегодняшний день в Княжестве прожили шесть поколений Нотари. По словам внука Луи Фредерика, семья Нотари родом из Швейцарии. Предки Луи были масонами и по долгу службы остановились в Монако. К слову, отец Луи Нотари участвовал в строительстве Собора Святого Николая. Обосновавшись в Монако, Нотари больше не покидали Княжество. Семья проживала в доме на авеню де Ситронье( avenue des Citronniers), который сегодня находился бы рядом с отелем Метрополь, однако был разрушен. У Луи было два брата: Андрэ, который впоследствии стал адвокатом, и Леон, выбравший профессию врача.
Ceremony of Laying the First Stone of Monaco Courthouse, minute signed by Louis Notari, 1923
98 / Hello Monaco Spring – Summer 2018