Goscinny Obelisk

The Goscinny Obelisk is an iconic monument dedicated to the screenwriter René Goscinny, located on the plaza in front of the Angoulême train station, and featuring 82 engraved quotes from his major works.

Description and Location

The Goscinny Obelisk is located on Place de la Gare in Angoulême, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. The sculpture is made of Massangis-type Burgundy stone, stands approximately 5.20 meters tall, and weighs nearly 7.9 metric tons. It is the largest monument in Europe dedicated to comic books.

History and Symbolism

The monument was donated by the René Goscinny Institute to commemorate the 40th anniversary of René Goscinny’s passing and to affirm Angoulême’s identity as the capital of comics. The obelisk pays tribute to his entire body of work as well as to the 9th Art in contemporary culture, with a nod to his collaborations with famous authors such as Albert Uderzo, Morris, Jean Tabary, Sempé, and Gotlib. It is also located near the Uderzo Menhir, erected six years later, creating a complementary tribute to the creative duo behind Asterix.

Engraved Content

The base and the monument itself feature 82 quotes taken from Goscinny’s famous works, such as *Asterix*, *Lucky Luke*, *Iznogoud*, *Le Petit Nicolas*, and *Les Dingodossiers*. Some of these expressions have entered everyday language, for example: “Those Romans are crazy,” “Shoot faster than your shadow,” or “Be afraid that the sky will fall on our heads.” These inscriptions symbolize Goscinny’s humorous and creative spirit and invite passersby to interact with the monument.

Inauguration and Visits

The official unveiling took place on January 25, 2017, as part of the 44th International Comics Festival, in the presence of Anne Goscinny, the writer’s daughter, and the city’s mayor. The monument is open daily, allowing both tourists and residents to discover these cultural references and appreciate the legacy of one of France’s most famous comic book writers.

In short, the Goscinny obelisk in Angoulême is not only a tribute to René Goscinny and his immense contribution to comics, but also a symbol of the city’s cultural influence and of the recognition of the profession of comic book writer.