”Heureux qui comme Ulysse a fait un beau voyage” (Happy is he who, like Ulysses, has made a great journey) opens one of Joachim du Bellay's most iconic poems. As one of France's beloved early poets, du Bellay is known for contributing to the enrichment of the French language during the Renaissance as a key member of La Pléiade, a major literary movement in French history. This movement sought to elevate French literature by refining the language and introducing new poetic forms, inspired by the literary prestige of Greek, Roman, and Italian works.

Joachim du Bellay died in Paris in 1560, and although records suggest he was buried in Notre-Dame Cathedral, his tomb has never been found. Almost 500 years after du Bellay's death, this mystery appears to be solved. A skeleton was discovered in a coffin beneath the cathedral's transept during restoration work following the 2019 fire. Scientists now believe, with near certainty, that the remains belong to the French poet.