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Asterix and the Banquet
French Title:	Le tour de Gaule
Story:	René Goscinny
Illustrations:	Albert Uderzo
French Edition:	1965
English Translation:	1979
Preceded by:	Asterix the Gladiator
Followed by:	Asterix and Cleopatra

Asterix and the Banquet is the fifth volume of the Asterix comic book series, by René Goscinny (stories) and Albert Uderzo (illustrations). It was first serialized in Pilote issues 172-213 in 1963.

Contents 1 Plot Summary 2 References 3 Notes 4 In other languages

When the Romans try to contain the threat from the Gaulish village by building a stockade around it, Asterix and Obelix lay a bet with them. They will break out and claim their right to travel freely all over Gaul, collecting the local delicacies and bring them back to prove their point. Ham from Lutetia, fizzy wine from Durocortorum, fish stew from Massila in the south... soon their shopping bag is full.

Outwitting Romans, thieves, and a couple of traitorous Gauls, they set off for home... but who's that little dog that has been following them all the way from Lutetia?

• The route taken by Asterix and Obelix is the similar to that of the famous Tour de France and the sack carried by Obelix reflects the race leader's jersey colour (yellow — with a patch for the number).
• Fun is poked at various French regional stereotypes:
  • The inhabitants of Normandy are shown as being unable to give a direct answer. (page 10).
  • The traffic jams in Paris (Lutetia in the comic strip) are spoofed.
  • The phrase: "Je vous promets qu'on n'a pas fini d'en parler de l'affaire du courrier de Lugdunum !" is a reference to the trial "le courrier de Lyon" where an innocent one was sentenced.
  • The inhabitants of Massilia (Marseille) are shown to exaggerate enormously.
• The idea of using bread crumbs to find your way back is a reference to Hansel und Gretel or the French fairy tale Hop o' My Thumb.
• The scenes on page 36 are references to the film César (1936) by Marcel Pagnol. The characters are caricatures of the actors in the film, including Raimu.

• On the cover of the album, the sack is coloured incorrectly. (green with a yellow patch)
• In the original French version, the camp Centurion in this story (Gracchus Nenjetépus), is the same as that of the previous volume, Asterix the Gladiator — the only time a Centurion appears in more than one album. However, in all major translations, he is given a different name in this volume (in the English version, he is named Gracchus Armisurplus in Asterix the Gladiator, and Lotuseatus in this album).
• Dogmatix is introduced in this book. He is first seen outside the pork butcher's shop in Lutetia. He follows Asterix and Obelix (who do not notice him during the entire journey) all across Gaul back to their village. Obelix notices him before the victory feast because he barks for the very first time and is rewarded with a bone.
• Dogmatix was originally supposed to be a literally running gag in this story alone. However, the authors decided that he should stay in the series as a mascot.

• Italian: Asterix e il Giro di Gallia
• Catalan: La volta a Gàl·lia
• Spanish: La vuelta a la Galia
• Finnish: Asterix lyö vetoa
• German: Tour de France
• Dutch: Asterix en de Ronde van Gallia"
• Polish: Wyprawa dookoła Galii
• Portuguese: A volta à Gália
• Swedish: Gallien runt
• Norwegian: Gallia Rundt

v • d • e Asterix
Books	Asterix the Gaul | Asterix and the Golden Sickle | Asterix and the Goths | Asterix the Gladiator | Asterix and the Banquet | Asterix and Cleopatra | Asterix and the Big Fight | Asterix in Britain | Asterix and the Normans | Asterix the Legionary | Asterix and the Chieftain's Shield | Asterix at the Olympic Games | Asterix and the Cauldron | Asterix in Spain | Asterix and the Roman Agent | Asterix in Switzerland | The Mansions of the Gods | Asterix and the Laurel Wreath | Asterix and the Soothsayer | Asterix in Corsica | Asterix and Caesar's Gift | Asterix and the Great Crossing | Obelix and Co. | Asterix in Belgium | Asterix and the Great Divide | Asterix and the Black Gold | Asterix and Son | Asterix and the Magic Carpet | Asterix and the Secret Weapon | Asterix and Obelix All at Sea | Asterix and the Actress | Asterix and the Class Act | Asterix and the Falling Sky How Obelix Fell into the Magic Potion When he was a Little Boy
Movies	Asterix the Gaul | Asterix and Cleopatra |The Twelve Tasks of Asterix | Asterix Versus Caesar | Asterix in Britain | Asterix and the Big Fight | Asterix Conquers America | Asterix and the Vikings Live action Asterix films
Games	Asterix | Asterix and the Magic Cauldron | Asterix and the Great Rescue | Asterix & Obelix XXL | XXL 2: Mission Las Vegum
Characters	Asterix | Obelix | Dogmatix | Others
Associated People	René Goscinny | Albert Uderzo | Anthea Bell | Derek Hockridge | Pierre Tchernia