School fencing has been taught in Monaco since the very beginning of the century.
When the Lycée Albert I was founded in 1910, among the pioneering team of its founding staff was Sergeant Jules PRAT, seconded from the Monaco Fire Brigade, who was responsible for gymnastics.

Jules PRAT was also a fencing master. In 1914, the sports association of the Lycée Albert de Monaco held its major annual interschool event on Sunday, June 7, 1914, on the North Quay of the port. Running, athletics, rifle shooting, and fencing were on the program. In the following years, the school’s participation in the sporting life of Monaco remained very active under the direction of Master Jules PRAT. His son, Master Louis PRAT, took over, creating a fencing room at the Lycée Albert I in 1941, where he taught until 1959. He organized, among other events, the French U.G.S.E.L. Championships in 1955 and 1958, in which his nephew, Georges PRAT, won the title three times in the benjamin and cadet categories and was five times vice-champion.

He was joined in 1947 by Master Edmond DURRIEU, who retired on September 30, 1973. To compensate for Master DURRIEU’s retirement—and thus avoid losing school fencing instruction in Monaco—the Monegasque Fencing Federation asked the Princely Government to recruit a physical education teacher specialized in fencing. This was done in 1974 with Master Gérard BOYER, who brought new life to school fencing, especially for students practicing foil but particularly sabre.

Excellent results followed, notably with young athletes such as Martini, Lubrano, Ceretti, Léa, and others.
In 1975, Miss MOZZICARELLI came to assist Master BOYER with school training on Wednesday afternoons. In October 1981, a school fencing center began operating in the fencing hall of the Stade Louis II on Wednesday afternoons. This center was open to all students from the Principality’s schools. In 1983, Miss MOZZICARELLI took responsibility for the School Fencing Center when Master BOYER changed sporting disciplines. She was replaced by Mrs. Anne BROTTEL in September 2002. Master Eric FROMAGER later joined us to take charge of the Sabre, Laser Sabre, and Épée sections. Last year (2022), Master Alexandre GABRIEL joined the team of fencing masters and now oversees baby fencing and foil fencers along with Master Anne BROTTEL.

The history of school fencing in Monaco is rich in events and deserves a booklet of its own.