At the heart of the Asterix Park, a new family roller coaster is turning heads: Cétautomatix. Opened since August 18, this attraction accessible to young children takes visitors on cars that spin around themselves, amidst playful drops and sharp turns. While the speed remains moderate, the face-to-face seats and an astonishing propulsion zone in the middle of the ride promise gentle… yet unpredictable sensations. Themed around the famous Gallic blacksmith, is this new attraction worth a detour — and perhaps a second ride?
Opened since August 18, the new family roller coaster at Asterix Park, named Cétautomatix, offers a mixture of spinning cars, sharp turns, and surprise effects at a moderate speed. Designed for children from 1 meter accompanied, as well as for those seeking gentle thrills, it combines a well-crafted Gallic theming, a continuous loading system, and a compact 420 m track enhanced by an unprecedented propulsion for this type of coaster in Europe. Is it enough to make it a must-try attraction? We’re here to take you along.
Imagine a tangle of bright red tracks, a Gallic blacksmith’s workshop turned testing ground, and chariots longing to race. This is the world of Cétautomatix, a spinning coaster for families where the cars spin around themselves while racing down a succession of drops and turns. No need to be a druid to enjoy the sensations: the speed tops out at about 45 km/h, but the “top” effect spices up every meter of the ride.
What Makes the Difference
Passengers sit face-to-face in groups of four in vehicles that begin a climb to 14 meters before plunging into a course where the next move is rarely predictable. Halfway through, a propulsion zone reignites the action — a European first for this type of attraction — ensuring a more lively finale than expected. As the rotation depends on weight distribution, each ride is literally unique.
First Visitor Feedback
Families and curious visitors often emerge with broad smiles: some compare the experience to well-known spinning attractions from another park in the Île-de-France, while highlighting the joy of exchanging glances and laughter in face-to-face seating. The most commonly heard downside: “we want more,” as the track, located in an already dense area of the park, does not exceed 420 m.
A Gallic Spinning Coaster that Challenges Norms
While the concept of spinning cars is not new, the Gallic version sets the record straight with clever choices. The continuous loading smooths out the line and boosts capacity to about 700 guests/hour. The face-to-face seating creates a friendly atmosphere, even among strangers, and the propulsion in the middle of the ride surprises fans of traditional spinning coasters.
The result: an attraction designed for families, not a concentration of records like Toutatis, but an accessible adventure that surprises without scaring the youngest.
Atmosphere and Décor: Cétautomatix’s Garage Comes Alive
Welcome to the workshop of Cétautomatix, the iconic blacksmith who turns his garage into a testing ground for his chariots. The queue is filled with nods and puns in the spirit of the comic, and there’s a small dark ride segment at the start, as you pass by the forge. Some technical areas of the circuit, glimpsed in passing, are less themed, but once you’re off, there’s rarely time to dwell on them.
For those who hesitate to board, the hypnotic ballet of the cars is visible from the esplanade, ideal for gauging the atmosphere before diving in.
Who, When, and How to Test Cétautomatix?
You can board from 1 meter (accompanied), providing first sensations for 4-5 year-olds. Families as a whole will find satisfaction: the moderate speed, sharp turns, and rotation effect create the illusion of a more challenging ride than it seems, without ever crossing the comfort threshold.
To optimize your day, check out this ultimate guide for a perfect family day and take a look at the top 10 most visited amusement parks in Europe to situate Asterix Park within the leisure landscape.
Minor Downsides and Big Ideas
Yes, the track is short and some backstage sections are less dressed up. But the combination of reasonable speed + variable rotation + mid-ride propulsion manages to deliver a surprising and different experience from one ride to the next. On the technical side, the construction faced delays — tight deadlines, model complexity, adjustments at the builder Gerstlauer — but everything is now operational to welcome the public.
Good news for thrill-seekers during the seasons: the summer opening comes just in time for the Halloween period, with a new scare zone announced as a bonus.
Comparisons and Trends: Cétautomatix in the Big Picture
In the face of record-breaking coasters, Cétautomatix opts for family fun. Fans of spinning attractions will find a spirit similar to popular experiences in Île-de-France, but with a distinctly Gallic identity and technical innovations that make the ride stand out.
The amusement park sector is evolving everywhere: while the Gauls sharpen their chariots, Asia sees giant projects emerging, like the largest LEGO park in China. And if adrenaline calls you beyond the rails, you might even dream of a helicopter hike in Whistler.
A useful reminder in the era of viral videos: amidst two enthusiastic reviews, keep a critical eye on sponsored content and influence mechanisms. To understand the behind-the-scenes of these dynamics, this insight into influencer manipulation provides interesting reference points, even if the subject differs.
Practical Information to Prepare for Your Visit
Opening Periods
The Asterix Park is open every day until August 31, then on Wednesdays and weekends in September, weekends in October, and on Friday, October 17 in the evening, during the All Saints’ holidays, the weekend of November 8 to 11, and then for the Christmas holidays.
Access
From Paris: RER B to Roissy–Charles-de-Gaulle, then shuttle (around €11 round trip per person). Long-distance bus FlixBus or BlaBlaCar. By car via the A1, parking around €20.
Prices
Day tickets range from about €49 to €65 for an adult, depending on the date and flexibility. Remember to book in advance to optimize your budget and time on-site.
Queue Tip
Aim for the morning at opening or late afternoon to reduce wait times at Cétautomatix. And if you’re in a group, distribute the weights to vary the rotation and test different sensations from one ride to the next.
