The Golden Menhir

The “lost” Asterix book

Le Menhir d’Or (which translates to The Golden Menhir) is a lesser-known adventure from the Asterix series, created by René Goscinny (script) and Albert Uderzo (illustration). Originally released in 1967 as an audiobook in a 33 RPM vinyl format, it was reissued as an illustrated album on October 21, 2020. This unique story was designed to be both read and listened to, making it a fascinating entry in the Asterix universe.

The Story

The tale follows Cacofonix, the village bard, who dreams of winning the Menhir d’Or, the grand prize at a prestigious competition for Gallic bards. His song Menhir montant (a humorous parody of Charles Trénet’s 1938 classic Ménilmontant) is his entry for the contest. To support their friend—and ensure their own safety from his infamous singing—Asterix and Obelix accompany him, fully aware they might “lose an ear in the process!”
The competition, held in the Forest of Carnutes, features rival bards such as Phonographix, Tournedix, and Livredix, each performing songs inspired by real-life French hits. However, the Romans, led by General Pastieucaliptus, have their own plans. Bored and looking for entertainment, they send a detachment from the Babaorum camp to capture the best Gallic bard. In a twist of fate, Cacofonix —eliminated from the contest and furious—storms off, only to be mistakenly kidnapped by the Romans, who believe him to be the winner.
Asterix and Obelix find a clue in the form of a centurion’s lost helmet and set off to rescue their friend. However, when General Pastieucaliptus threatens war if Cacofonix is taken, he quickly changes his mind after hearing the bard sing!

asterix le menhir d'or disc — Cover of the 1967 record. Click to listen.

A Lost & Rediscovered Classic

Originally, Le Menhir d’Or was intended as a playful parody of the Eurovision Song Contest. With voice performances from Asterix veterans Roger Carel (Asterix), Jacques Morel (Obelix), and Jacques Jouanneau (Assurancetourix), along with music by Gérard Calvi, it was an ambitious multimedia project. However, it did not achieve the expected success and soon faded into obscurity.
Before this, other Asterix stories such as Asterix the Gaul and The Golden Sickle had also been adapted into vinyl record formats, and in 1976, The Twelve Tasks of Asterix received a similar treatment.
In 2020, after more than 50 years, Le Menhir d’Or was given a second life. Albert Uderzo himself supervised the adaptation of this illustrated edition, marking his final contribution to Asterix before his passing in March 2020. A remastered audio version was also released, accessible via a QR code inside the book.

Though Le Menhir d’Or has not yet been published in English, it remains an essential piece of Asterix history—a whimsical, music-filled adventure that showcases the humor and creativity of Goscinny and Uderzo at their best.