Asterix: the most famous of all the Gauls
Small in stature but full of courage, with his proud moustache and winged helmet… Asterix is easily recognisable, and the whole world loves him! With his friend Obelix, he embarks on the craziest adventures full of twists, fights, emotions… and roasted boar!
ASTERIX THE GAUL, THE BIRTH OF A LEGEND
Do you know when Asterix was born? No, not in... something BC… but on 25 October 1959, in a magazine called Pilote. Written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, that was the start of an adventure that continues to this day. Since then, Asterix the Gaul has had dozens of sagas, alongside menhir cutter Obelix and his little pooch Dogmatix. Of course, this delightful trio often finds itself facing the Romans… because Asterix lives in Gaul, which was conquered by Caesar.
The whole of Gaul? No! One village has managed to hold off these invaders... and that’s where our hero lives! And even though their village is surrounded by the Roman camps of Aquarium, Totorum, Laudanum and Compendium, Asterix and Obelix are not ready to give up. Especially as Getafix the druid has concocted a magic potion that packs a punch!
ASTERIX: THE WORLD’S MOST POPULAR FRENCH TOURIST
French tourists do not always have the best reputation abroad, but Asterix is welcomed everywhere! Not only during his adventures (in Switzerland, Portugal, Spain, etc.) but also by readers! More than 370 million copies of the Asterix comic books have been sold worldwide. The mighty Gaul’s adventures have been translated into 111 languages, some even in Latin and the international artificial language Esperanto.
And let’s not forget the cartoons! Since 1967, Asterix the Gaul has been delighting us on screen. The animated films include Asterix the Gaul, Asterix and Cleopatra, The Twelve Tasks of Asterix, Asterix Versus Caesar, Asterix in Britain, Asterix and the Big Fight, Asterix Conquers America, Asterix and the Vikings and Asterix: The Mansions of the Gods. The Asterix adventures have also inspired several live action films, including Asterix and Obelix vs. Caesar, Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra, Asterix at the Olympic Games and Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia. The feature film directed by Alain Chabat (Asterix and Obelix: Mission Cleopatra), starring Christian Clavier, Gérard Depardieu, Jamel Debbouze and Monica Bellucci, was a box office hit with over 14 million tickets sold!
Parc Astérix was created in 1989 as a colourful tribute to the books depicting the Gaul you know and love. A vibrant world full of adventure, humour and big thrills!