In this series of articles, we take a closer look at the places Asterix and Obelix visit during their journey around Gaul, focusing on the original French version of the story and the specific regional delicacies mentioned there. Le Tour de Gaule d’Astérix is widely regarded as one of the more difficult albums to translate, as much of its humor depends on cultural references, wordplay, and culinary traditions. By providing historical context, this series aims to clarify the puns that make this journey so memorable.
The Sparkling Spirit of Durocortorum: A Pop of Gallic Wit
After securing their ham in Lutetia, Asterix and Obelix head northeast to Durocortorum, modern-day Reims. In Roman times, the city was the capital of the Remi tribe and one of the most important urban centers in northern Gaul. Although Durocortorum played a major administrative and military role, the heroes visit it for a much lighter reason: its wine.
Durocortorum: Capital of the Remi
Under Roman rule, Durocortorum developed into one of the wealthiest cities in Gaul. The Remi had allied themselves early with Rome, a political choice that allowed their capital to prosper and expand. The city was equipped with the full range of Roman urban features, including a forum and monumental architecture. One of its most striking remains, the Porte de Mars, a large triumphal arch dating from the 3rd century, still stands today.
Durocortorum also occupied a strategic position at the intersection of several major Roman roads, making it a natural center for trade and distribution. This historical role provides the setting for the specialized wine merchant encountered by Asterix and Obelix in the album.
The “Vin des Vins”: A Champagne Anachronism
In the original French text, the wine seller proudly promotes his product as the “vin des vins” and emphasizes that it is pétillant, or sparkling. This detail is one of the album’s best-known anachronisms. While the region around Reims is now inseparably associated with Champagne, sparkling wine as we know it today was developed many centuries after the Roman period.
By introducing a sparkling wine into a first-century setting, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo deliberately play on the modern reputation of Reims as the heart of the Champagne region. The joke relies on the reader’s contemporary knowledge rather than historical accuracy.
“Brut”: A Joke That Travels Poorly
This episode culminates in a dense cluster of linguistic puns that are notoriously difficult to translate. The merchant asks whether the wine should be Brut, Sec, Demi-sec, or Doux, terms that in modern French refer to the sugar content of Champagne, with Brut being the driest. He then warns the heroes to be careful with the corks, as they “sautent facilement”.
BTW. Have you noticed the wine seller’s nose? Seems he really likes what he sells.
Asterix immediately turns this warning into a weapon, using a flying cork to knock out a Roman legionary. Dazed, the Roman mutters “Brut?”, apparently confusing the impact with the name of the wine. As Asterix and Obelix escape, a bystander shouts “Brutes !” after them.
The joke hinges on pronunciation: “Brut” (the wine classification) and “brute” (a bully or savage) sound nearly identical in French. The humor lies in the Roman’s misunderstanding and the bystander’s insult, a nuance that often loses much of its effect in translation.
Mumm Cordon Rouge
In the stories as they were originally drawn the amphora’s in these panels have a distinctive diagonal red line, an obvious reference to famous Mumm Cordon Rouge champagne label. The red ribbon (or Cordon Rouge) was introduced in 1876 by Georges Hermann Mumm. It was designed as a tribute to the Légion d’Honneur (the Legion of Honor), which is France’s highest civilian and military distinction. By putting the “red ribbon” on the bottle, Mumm was visually signaling that their champagne was a product of high prestige and excellence. The house’s motto is “Nec Plus Ultra” (Latin for “Only the Best”). These distinct red lines disappeared when all the stories got digitised and recoloured.
It the English translation the wine seller actually makes a reference to Mumm. Have you noticed?
A Legacy of Celebration
Today, Reims remains closely associated with Champagne and celebration. Its identity reflects a long historical continuity, from its origins as Roman Durocortorum, through its medieval role as the traditional coronation city of the Kings of France, to its modern status as a global symbol of sparkling wine. The stop in Le Tour de Gaule d’Astérix neatly compresses this later reputation into a single, deliberately anachronistic gag.
In this series of articles, we take a closer look at the places Asterix and Obelix visit during their journey around Gaul, focusing on the original French version of the story and the specific regional delicacies mentioned there. Le Tour de Gaule d’Astérix is widely regarded as one of the more difficult albums to translate, as much of its humor depends on cultural references, wordplay, and culinary traditions. By providing historical context, this series aims to clarify the puns that make this journey so memorable.
The Sparkling Spirit of Durocortorum: A Pop of Gallic Wit
After securing their ham in Lutetia, Asterix and Obelix head northeast to Durocortorum, modern-day Reims. In Roman times, the city was the capital of the Remi tribe and one of the most important urban centers in northern Gaul. Although Durocortorum played a major administrative and military role, the heroes visit it for a much lighter reason: its wine.
Durocortorum: Capital of the Remi
Under Roman rule, Durocortorum developed into one of the wealthiest cities in Gaul. The Remi had allied themselves early with Rome, a political choice that allowed their capital to prosper and expand. The city was equipped with the full range of Roman urban features, including a forum and monumental architecture. One of its most striking remains, the Porte de Mars, a large triumphal arch dating from the 3rd century, still stands today.
Durocortorum also occupied a strategic position at the intersection of several major Roman roads, making it a natural center for trade and distribution. This historical role provides the setting for the specialized wine merchant encountered by Asterix and Obelix in the album.
The “Vin des Vins”: A Champagne Anachronism
In the original French text, the wine seller proudly promotes his product as the “vin des vins” and emphasizes that it is pétillant, or sparkling. This detail is one of the album’s best-known anachronisms. While the region around Reims is now inseparably associated with Champagne, sparkling wine as we know it today was developed many centuries after the Roman period.
By introducing a sparkling wine into a first-century setting, René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo deliberately play on the modern reputation of Reims as the heart of the Champagne region. The joke relies on the reader’s contemporary knowledge rather than historical accuracy.
“Brut”: A Joke That Travels Poorly
This episode culminates in a dense cluster of linguistic puns that are notoriously difficult to translate. The merchant asks whether the wine should be Brut, Sec, Demi-sec, or Doux, terms that in modern French refer to the sugar content of Champagne, with Brut being the driest. He then warns the heroes to be careful with the corks, as they “sautent facilement”.
BTW. Have you noticed the wine seller’s nose? Seems he really likes what he sells.
Asterix immediately turns this warning into a weapon, using a flying cork to knock out a Roman legionary. Dazed, the Roman mutters “Brut?”, apparently confusing the impact with the name of the wine. As Asterix and Obelix escape, a bystander shouts “Brutes !” after them.
The joke hinges on pronunciation: “Brut” (the wine classification) and “brute” (a bully or savage) sound nearly identical in French. The humor lies in the Roman’s misunderstanding and the bystander’s insult, a nuance that often loses much of its effect in translation.
Mumm Cordon Rouge
In the stories as they were originally drawn the amphora’s in these panels have a distinctive diagonal red line, an obvious reference to famous Mumm Cordon Rouge champagne label. The red ribbon (or Cordon Rouge) was introduced in 1876 by Georges Hermann Mumm. It was designed as a tribute to the Légion d’Honneur (the Legion of Honor), which is France’s highest civilian and military distinction. By putting the “red ribbon” on the bottle, Mumm was visually signaling that their champagne was a product of high prestige and excellence. The house’s motto is “Nec Plus Ultra” (Latin for “Only the Best”). These distinct red lines disappeared when all the stories got digitised and recoloured.
It the English translation the wine seller actually makes a reference to Mumm. Have you noticed?
A Legacy of Celebration
Today, Reims remains closely associated with Champagne and celebration. Its identity reflects a long historical continuity, from its origins as Roman Durocortorum, through its medieval role as the traditional coronation city of the Kings of France, to its modern status as a global symbol of sparkling wine. The stop in Le Tour de Gaule d’Astérix neatly compresses this later reputation into a single, deliberately anachronistic gag.