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 regional context for each stop. Le Tour de Gaule d’Astérix is widely regarded as one of the more difficult albums to translate, as much of its humor relies on cultural references, wordplay, and culinary traditions. By providing historical context, this series aims to clarify the puns and narrative details that make the journey so memorable.
On their journey to Nicae, our heroes find themselves on the route de sud, encountering a road sign marked VR / VII. This references Voie Romaine VII, a Roman road that parodies France’s Route Nationale 7 (N7), historically the “holiday route” stretching from Paris to the Mediterranean coast at Menton. The N7 was also called route des vacances or route bleue, as generations of travelers took it to reach the Riviera.
Along the way, Asterix and Obelix spot a billboard with a logo reading BF instead of BP, referencing the familiar petroleum brand.
La Promenade des Bretons
In Nicae, they walk along La Promenade des Bretons, a pun on the city’s Promenade des Anglais. Here, Asterix and Obelix stop to buy a salad, presented as the city’s specialty—a nod to the Salade Niçoise.
Niçoise salad highlights:
- It is a composed salad, with ingredients arranged rather than mixed.
- Key ingredients include:
- Tomatoes
- Anchovies or tuna
- Olives (traditionally small black Niçoise olives)
- Olive oil
- Traditional recipes do not include cooked vegetables such as green beans or potatoes.
- Originally, lettuce was not included, though modern versions often have it.
The Gaulish Cart
Outside the restaurant, a cart bears a prominent G on its back—standing for Gaul (today, it would read FR for France). The license plate of said cart ends in LXXV. 75 is the department number of Paris. I haven’t come anything that explains wether or not 902 NB (CMII are the Roman numerals for 902) is in some way funny or not. People have suggested it might have been the license plate of either Goscinny or Uderzo, but we have no way of knowing this for sure.
In some early translations (German and Dutch for example) the license plate was either left black or said something else all together.
Historical Context: Nicae in Roman Times
In 50 BCE, Nicae was a small settlement in Roman Gaul. Founded in the 4th century BCE by the Greeks as Nikaia, it became part of the Roman province Gallia Narbonensis. Its location on the Mediterranean coast made it a vital stop for trade and military movements, connecting the interior via Roman roads to Italy and the wider empire. Nicae’s fertile surroundings supported fresh vegetables and herbs, laying the foundations for culinary traditions such as the Niçoise salad.
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 regional context for each stop. Le Tour de Gaule d’Astérix is widely regarded as one of the more difficult albums to translate, as much of its humor relies on cultural references, wordplay, and culinary traditions. By providing historical context, this series aims to clarify the puns and narrative details that make the journey so memorable.
On their journey to Nicae, our heroes find themselves on the route de sud, encountering a road sign marked VR / VII. This references Voie Romaine VII, a Roman road that parodies France’s Route Nationale 7 (N7), historically the “holiday route” stretching from Paris to the Mediterranean coast at Menton. The N7 was also called route des vacances or route bleue, as generations of travelers took it to reach the Riviera.
Along the way, Asterix and Obelix spot a billboard with a logo reading BF instead of BP, referencing the familiar petroleum brand.
La Promenade des Bretons
In Nicae, they walk along La Promenade des Bretons, a pun on the city’s Promenade des Anglais. Here, Asterix and Obelix stop to buy a salad, presented as the city’s specialty—a nod to the Salade Niçoise.
Niçoise salad highlights:
- It is a composed salad, with ingredients arranged rather than mixed.
- Key ingredients include:
- Tomatoes
- Anchovies or tuna
- Olives (traditionally small black Niçoise olives)
- Olive oil
- Traditional recipes do not include cooked vegetables such as green beans or potatoes.
- Originally, lettuce was not included, though modern versions often have it.
The Gaulish Cart
Outside the restaurant, a cart bears a prominent G on its back—standing for Gaul (today, it would read FR for France). The license plate of said cart ends in LXXV. 75 is the department number of Paris. I haven’t come anything that explains wether or not 902 NB (CMII are the Roman numerals for 902) is in some way funny or not. People have suggested it might have been the license plate of either Goscinny or Uderzo, but we have no way of knowing this for sure.
In some early translations (German and Dutch for example) the license plate was either left black or said something else all together.
Historical Context: Nicae in Roman Times
In 50 BCE, Nicae was a small settlement in Roman Gaul. Founded in the 4th century BCE by the Greeks as Nikaia, it became part of the Roman province Gallia Narbonensis. Its location on the Mediterranean coast made it a vital stop for trade and military movements, connecting the interior via Roman roads to Italy and the wider empire. Nicae’s fertile surroundings supported fresh vegetables and herbs, laying the foundations for culinary traditions such as the Niçoise salad.