The Louvre launches Beyonce and Jay-Z tour
Francesca Street, CNN • Updated 11th July 2018
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(CNN) — Want to spend an afternoon following in the footsteps of Beyoncé and Jay Z?
Now you can -- thanks to the Louvre's new "Jay-Z and Beyoncé at the Louvre" self-guided tour, which spotlights 17 artworks used in the music video for "Apes**t," the super successful single the couple surprise-dropped in June.
In the striking video, filmed on location in the Paris museum, celebrated works of art including the "Mona Lisa" form the backdrop of Beyoncé and Jay-Z's first musical collaboration as The Carters.
The video -- which has had more than 68 million views and counting -- has been interpreted as a comment on Western art history and its eradication of people of color. It's the first video for the couple's new album, "Everything is Love."
Thematic trail
The Louvre is offering a Beyonce and Jay-Z themed tour.
YouTube/Beyonce
The thematic trail can be printed off, or followed on your phone via the art museum's website.
It begins with the "Winged Victory of Samothrace" Greek sculpture -- which Beyoncé dances in front of in the video -- goes on to Théodore Géricault's "Raft of the Medusa" and concludes with Marie-Guillemine Benoist's "Portrait of a Black Woman."
It's only available Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The Louvre tells CNN Travel that this is because some of the rooms can be closed on other days.
The online guide offers details and context for each artwork, as well as pinpointing exact locations in the museum's sprawling halls.
But it doesn't offer specific insight into why the artworks were chosen for the music video. Instead it's left up to the visitor to reflect on the significance of each piece in the context of "Apes**t."
The Louvre is the most popular museum in the world.
LUDOVIC MARIN/AFP/AFP/Getty Images
This isn't the first time the Louvre have designed a visitor trail around a musical artist. Following a Louvre-themed documentary produced by artist will.i.am, the museum introduced a "will.i.am at the Louvre" self-guided tour for visitors to enjoy, featuring some of the most opulent rooms in the collection, including Marie Antoinette's salon.
Visitors can see artwork featured in the power couple's video for "Apesh**t."
YouTube/Beyonce
The Louvre isn't exactly lacking in visitors. It was 2017's most popular museum, with 8.1 million people venturing through its doors over the 12-month period.
But the Beyoncé touch will no doubt attract a few more keen to emulate the star.
