I grew up reading the French comic book series Asterix (or, The Adventures of Asterix). The stories of the plucky Gaul, Asterix, who defends his village from Roman occupation with help from a magic potion, were first published in 1959 and are still hugely popular to this day.
Written by René Goscinny and illustrated by Albert Uderzo, the books have racked up sales of 380 million books worldwide and been translated into 111 languages.
In France, Asterix is a French icon.
It’s not surprising then that there is an Asterix theme park. Located in Plailly, in the Hauts de France region not far from Paris, the much-loved Parc Astérix has been entertaining visitors since it opened in 1989. It’s the second most visited park in France and was awarded the title of Best European Theme Park in 2023.
May 2024 marked its 35th anniversary and we were there for the birthday celebrations and to see what’s new in the park.
Read on for our Parc Asterix review including new rides and attractions (including the fastest rollercoaster in Europe), how the park compares to Disneyland Paris, where to stay, and why the Filomatrix fast passes are well worth the money.
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Asterix The Gaul and Parc Asterix
Table of Contents
The Asterix stories are set in a 50 B.C., when France was invaded by the Roman Empire and Julius Caesar was in power. All of France has been occupied by the Romans apart from the small village where Asterix lives.
The village druid Panoramix (Getafix in the English version) has created a magic potion that gives Asterix and his fellow villagers temporary super human strength. Everyone that is, apart from Asterix’s loyal sidekick Obelix, who fell in a vat of magic potion when he was a baby. This magic potion ensures that the village can hold out against Roman occupation.
I loved the the Asterix comics when I was growing up – and still enjoy them today – but even if you are not familiar with the comic series, Parc Asterix is still well worth a visit.
Themes, destinations and characters from the world of Asterix have been cleverly incorporated throughout the park: costumed characters roam around, much of the park is recognisable from scenes in the comics and you can even have a boar hamburger for lunch (wild boar is Obelix’s favourite food).
Equally, however, you can simply come and enjoy the rollercoasters. There are rides for the whole family to enjoy, shows to watch, a daily parade, play areas for really young kids, and more.
Located in Plailly in the Hauts de France, Parc Astérix is just 40 minutes from Paris. It’s so close that it can be visited as a day trip from Paris. If you really want to make the most of it, however, I recommend an overnight stay and the park has three hotels to choose from.
It also makes the perfect stop if you are driving from the UK to France (and back again) and easily ranks as one of our top places to visit in France with kids.
Asterix Park home to 50 attractions and shows spread out across seven different areas of the park, all relating to the comic books. The seven zones all have a variety of rides for different age groups.
Ancient Greece
This zone is one of my favourites and is home to the excellent Pégase Express (Pegasus Express) rollercoaster. It is also where you will find Les plongeons de l’Olympe, the Olympic divers.
Not so long ago, the park’s central amphitheatre was home to a dolphin show. Fortunately, the dolphins have gone to a better home and in their place is a spectacular diving performance. In honour of Zeus, four Roman and four Greek athletes compete in the Theatre of Poseidon, performing dives of ever increasing difficulty in the hope of winning Poseidon’s Trident.
Ancient Rome
You will often spot Roman soldiers parading around this area in front of the large theatre where shows are performed throughout the day.
One of the newest attractions is the Gaul musical, C’est du Délire. This 30-minute song and dance performance takes place in the Théâtre de Panoramix and is inspired by the adventures of Asterix and Obelix. It’s currently only in French but there are talks to make the show accessible to non-French speakers.
The Land of the Vikings
Home to rollercoaster rides, a swing boat and a viking playground, you might even spot the vikings rowing across the lake.
Via Antiqua
Located at the main entrance, this is where you’ll find the majority of the shops and where you can have your photo taken with favourite characters from the comic books.
Ancient Egypt
The setting for the 35th birthday celebrations, ancient Egypt is also where one of the park’s newest rides stands. La Tour de Numérobis (The Tower of Numerobis) is a tall tower that spins visitors around on swinging chairs at a dizzying height of 40 metres.
This is in addition to the zone’s other rides, including the exhilarating OzIris rollercoaster. Also new to ancient Egypt is P’Oz Kebab, a really excellent kebab shop that I recommend visiting after you have experienced the Tower of Numerous and Oz Iris.
The Village of the Gaulois
This central area is home to characters from the comic books as well as the updated, La Revanche des Pirates (the Pirates’ Revenge). Previously, this water ride was named Le Grand Splatch but it’s been given a makeover and is now a pirate-themed water ride that promises to get you very, very wet.
It’s one of my favourite rides in the park (more so on a hot day than on a wet and rainy day as it was when we visited this time!).
Also nearby is the Menhir Express, a fun-filled log flume ride. Coin-operated full-size dryers (“Sechez-Vous” machines) are located near both water rides to help you dry off.
Festival Toutatis
This is the newest area in Parc Astérix, an incredible €36 million zone dedicated to the Celtic god, Toutatis, who was worshipped in ancient Gaul.
Located near the Gaul zone, the area is home to a fantastic “Sanglier d’Or” play area and “Chez Gyrofolix” that has four rotating arms. But the main attraction here is the Toutatis rollercoaster, which reaches a maximum speed of 110km/h, making it the fastest in Europe.
If you like big rollercoasters then you will love this ride that boasts a 51-metre-high vertical boom, a 101-degree inclined drop, three inversions and 23 airtime moments.
The best rides at Parc Asterix
One of the best things about Parc Asterix is that it really is a family park with rides to suit all ages. This was my third time visiting Parc Astérix and for me it truly is one of the best theme parks for families with something for everyone. We visited for the first time when my youngest was just four-years-old. He is now nine and has graduated from the mini carousels to the big rollercoasters.
Access to rides is dictated by a minimum height requirement: the Parc Astérix app will tell you if there are any height restrictions. There are also measuring charts at the entrance to most rides.
Choosing the best rides at Park Asterix is tricky because it is so subjective but the following are some of our favourites.
- La Revanche des Pirates
- Tonnerre de Zeus 2 – this rollercoaster has recently been revamped and is great fun (the first drop will have your heart racing!).
- Menhir Express
- OzIris
- SOS Numberobis – a fun, and relatively gentle rollercoaster, ideal for younger children.
- Pegasus Express
- Goudrix – this steel roller coaster that held the European record for the greatest number of inversions when it first opened in 1989.
- Les Espions de Cesar – this is one of our favourite rides for young kids. Sit in a Roman soldier carriage and glide gently on rails above the park.
- Attention Menhir – we loved this 4D film that transports you into an Asterix comic with noises, movement, wind, water and some surprisingly realistic snakes…
- Toutaitis – apparently the opening of this rollercoaster caused a stampede!
- The Parade – although not a ride, the daily 4pm parade is good fun with colourful, themed floats running alongside the lake.
The Parc Asterix App
The Parc Asterix App is easily the best way to navigate the park. As well as the map the app gives detailed information on each ride including height requirements and the wait time. Some of the main attractions can have lengthy queues and the app can help you organise your time. The app also details your restaurant options and you can order online.
If you haven’t purchased the Filotomatix (see below for details), the app allows you to purchase one off ‘jump the queue’ tickets if the line for your favourite ride is just too long.
The Filotomatix – the fast pass at Parc Asterix
If you’re pressed for time If you’re pressed for time or you’re visiting Parc Asterix during peak times then I highly recommend getting the Filotomatix. Like other theme parks with fast pass options, this queue jumping service is in addition to the standard entrance ticket and comes at a cost but you do have various options available. The Filotomatix is available for 10 – 13 of the park’s major attractions depending on which fast pass you purhase.
Single use: Perfect for when you just can’t wait an hour to go on your favourite ride, this one-off purchase costs € 8 – 10 depending on the ride.
Bronze: Your phone pings you when it’s your turn to go on the ride €15
Silver: Your waiting time is halved for the included attractions (Toutaitis is not included in this pass) €35
Gold: You are allowed to jump the queue one time for each attraction (not including Toutatis, Disobelix and Tour de Numerous) €49 (€45 if bought online)
Unlimited: You have unlimited access to all the rides and can head to the front of the queue as many times as you like. €130 (€125 if bought online).
We used the Gold Filotomatix pass and we were able to enjoy all the most popular rides as well as many of the smaller ones. It really is worth it, particularly if you are only there for a day or two; queues for the most popular rides can be very long.
Parc Asterix Tickets
There are various ticket options available (and you can see those options here). A simple ticket costs €51 /48 for an adult/child aged 3 – 11 years old if booked seven days in advance. Offers are often available so do check the website before booking. If booked on the day tickets cost €62/54 for an adult/child.
The hotels at Parc Astérix
Parc Asterix is home to three themed hotels; Les Trois Hiboux, La Cité Suspendue and Les Quais de Lutece that opened in 2020. We have stayed in both Les Quais de Lutece and La Cité Suspendue and both are excellent.
A new hotel is scheduled to open in 2026.
Les Quais de Lutèce
This four star, award-winning hotel is themed around the city of Lutetia, as Paris was known under Roman occupation.
Walking into the hotel is like walking into the Asterix comic books themselves. The main reception resembles an old warehouse and leads onto what has been designed to resemble the old quays, connecting both banks of the Seine as they would have done in Roman times.
A river runs through the middle and buildings created to mimic those that you see in the Asterix books line each side. These are where you will find the hotel rooms and the main hotel restaurant.
The rooms are very well appointed and can sleep families of four and families of five, with separate sleeping areas with bunkbeds for children. You have to book your time slot for the buffet breakfast and dinners at the hotel restaurant, which looks like a Gaul dining hall. The food is surprisingly good with a wide selection of choices.
La Cité Suspendue
Located in the heart of the park woodland lies this hotel themed on an ancient hanging city. Rooms are housed within a dozen buildings painted in dark shades of red, green and yellow, and linked by raised wooden walkways. As in Les Quais de Lutece, the rooms have a separate sleeping area for kids and these bedrooms also enjoy a private balcony.
The restaurant is housed within the main reception building and both breakfast and dinner are generous buffet-style meals with very good quality food.
Staying at any of the three park hotels gives you early entry to the park; hotel guests are allowed in at 9.30am and the park’s official opening time is 10am.
Food options at Parc Asterix
There are dozens of restaurants and fast food outlets throughout the park. Our favourites are the recently opened P’Oz Kebab and the table service Le Restaurant du Lac where we had our boar burger.
When is Parc Asterix open?
Parc Asterix is not open year-round but it has extended its season and is now open 218 days a year. It is open daily from June to August and at other times of the year it is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Check the website carefully as opening days and times vary during the off-season. The park does host special themed events around Halloween and Christmas.
Parc Asterix vs Disneyland Paris?
Admittedly this question is a little hard to answer because if you love all things Disney then you’ll probably prefer Disneyland Paris to Parc Asterix.
However, there are several reasons why I think Asterix the Gaul trumps Mickey Mouse.
The first is that Parc Asterix is wonderfully, glorious French. This is an amusement park dedicated to one of the most popular comic book cartoons of all time. A day spent at Parc Asterix is an experience unique to France.
The second is time. If you have days to spend at a theme park then Disneyland Paris will work for you. If you are short on time, however, then Parc Asterix can be enjoyed in a day. It might be a long day (so consider spending the night in one of the park’s hotel) but it will be a very fun day.
And finally, the cost. At Disneyland Paris one day tickets cost around €97/90 for an adult/child compared to tickets starting at €51/48 for an adult/child at Parc Astérix.
