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The Asterix village
“The year is 50 B.C. Gaul is entirely occupied by the Romans. Well not entirely! One small village of indomitable Gauls still holds out against the invaders. And life is not easy for the Roman legionaries who garrison the fortified camps of Totorum, Aquarium, Laudanum and Compendium… “.
Presentation text for the Asterix and Obelix series
The Asterix village is an inseparable part of the adventures of the irreducible Gauls. Created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, the series has been internationally known since the first album published in 1961.
However, little is known about the village managed by its chief Vitalstatistix. Mysteries and legends surround the exact location of this haven of peace. But where is the Asterix village really located?
The Asterix village resists the invader
When the reader opens an Asterix and Obelix album, he immediately discovers a map of Gaul occupied by the Romans. A standard with the SPQR logo is planted in its center splitting the Massif Central. In the northwest, a magnifying glass enlarges the drawing. A village by the sea still resists the invaders. Surrounded by four Roman camps to watch over it, the village built entirely of wood was not part of Julius Caesar’s Empire. It is free.
As the famous introductory sentence quoted above indicates, the village of Asterix resists. Well before thinking about the characters, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo imagined this map, in order to situate as well as possible the place of the adventures of the irreducible Gauls. The year was 1959, two years before the publication of the first album, Asterix the Gaul. The first pages were published in the newly created newspaper Pilote. It is in the fifth vignette that we can observe this tiny village. It is necessary to wait for the seventh adventure of the famous duo, Le combat des chefs, to discover it on a full page.
Between mysteries and controversies, where is the Asterix village located?
With the help of success, all the villages in Brittany claim to be the Asterix village. Lannion, Perros-Guirec or Yaudet, all are applicants for the sesame.
But, the small village of Erquy, between Saint-Brieuc and Saint-Malo, in the Côtes d’Armor seems to be the most likely to win the grail. No huts or cauldron of magic potion in this town of more than 3,000 inhabitants, yet clues seem to converge towards him.
Astérix – Toutes les coulisses, par Toutatis ! (French Edition)
Go behind the scenes of Asterix and discover all the secrets of the village of Gallic diehards. Did you know that Louis de Funès wanted to play the Gaul in the movies or that he was the only one who could play…
A village by the sea to facilitate travel
René Goscinny asks his friend Albert Uderzo to place the Asterix village by the sea to facilitate the paper heroes’ travels. The author of Jehan Pistolet begins by putting into images a place in the Côtes d’Armor. If neither the scriptwriter nor the artist expressly admitted that the location would be Erquy, the town has assets that the author of Belloy knows well.
First of all, Erquy is located only eight kilometers from La Bouillie, a village that Uderzo knows well for having spent some time there during the Second World War. To escape the CLS (compulsory labor service) imposed by the German occupiers, he took refuge there with his brother Marcel. In fact, the author of Tanguy et Laverdure often came back on vacation with his family in the area in the following years.
Moreover, Erquy has a relief strongly resembling the village of Asterix. Three small islets are almost identical to those drawn under the magnifying glass. Better still, in The Mansion of Gods, released in 1971, readers identify the beaches of Erquy as the beaches of the adventures of the two Gauls. And what about the allusion to Tu-és-Roc, a place in the city in Asterix and Obelix all at Sea.
Archaeological excavations to prove the truth
Finally, “Le camp de César” is a place not far from Erquy where archaeological excavations have brought to light vestiges of the Roman era. Albert and Marcel also came there during their forced stay.
And even The Independent, the British daily, mentions excavations in 1993 not far from Erquy. A team of archaeologists led by Barry Cunliffe would have found the village of Asterix. But quickly, the French understood that it was a hoax, since the article was dated April 1st.
And if, in the end, the village of Asterix really did remain a mystery. The one allowing the famous Gauls to hide from the Romans? It would be a fun (big) nose dive!
Before the release of Asterix and the Griffin, 385 million copies of Asterix had been sold worldwide, or 13,000 tons. There are 111 language and dialect versions of the series, making it the most translated comic book in the world.
Erquy
Located in the Côtes d’Armor, Erquy is a commune of nearly 4,000 inhabitants.
A seaside resort on the Emerald Coast in Brittany, Erquy has a fleet of boats fishing for scallops, which has made its reputation.
A Paleolithic site precedes a Roman occupation. In 1796, a battle between French and English ships was held there.
Three islets also make its aura, in addition to its deposit of pink sandstone used for the construction of houses.
The Fantrippers Buying Board
Asterix Album 1 - Asterix the Gaul
Do you want to discover who the irreducible Gauls are? Discover the first Asterix adventure with this album by Albert Uderzo and René Goscinny.
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By Damien Canteau
Passionné par l'Histoire, les animés, les Arts et la bande dessinée en particulier, Damien est le rédacteur en chef du site spécialisé dans le 9e art, Comixtrip.