Abbaye de la Cambre in Brussels

The village of Ixelles originated with the foundation of Abbaye de la Cambre (Dutch: Abdij of Ter Kameren), which was established by the Sisters of the Cistercian Order in the Middle Ages. The abbey was initially situated close to the springs of the Maelbeek River in the Sonian Forest, whose remaining part, known as Bois de la Cambre (Dutch: Ter Kamerenbos), today adjoins the city of Brussels. Not long after its foundation, the abbey was consecrated by the Bishop of Cambrai. Following centuries of mostly undisturbed existence, the convent was closed in the course of the French Revolution (1797) and the buildings, the majority of them dating from the 18th Century, were left abandoned. In 1921 it was taken over by the Ligue des Amis de la Cambre and thoroughly restored. These days, the majestic edifices of the former abbey are not accessible for the public, being home to the headquarters of the Belgian National Geographic Institute and Ecole de La Cambre, an esteemed visual arts school that takes its name from the abbey.

Ixelles nowadays is one of the loveliest parts of Brussels, offering a perfect getaway from the hype of the city, with the charming Bois de la Cambre, parks, ponds and walkpaths. Nestling in a sheltered hollow between Bois de la Cambre and the Ixelles Ponds (the small lakes located at the end of the Chaussee d’Ixelles), Abbaye de la Cambre is the district’s best known landmark and well worth a visit.

What remains of the original structure today is the charming abbey church (Notre Dame de la Cambre) that can be accessed from a nice three-sided courtyard. Although dating from the 14th Century, it blends in perfectly with the 18th-century main buildings, conveying the impression of unity. A tall, stately construction, the church displays a pleasing blend of Gothic and Classical styles, with Baroque vaulting and a single barrel-vaulted nave. Walking in the interior, noteworthy for its simplicity in design, one’s attention is drawn to a remarkable painting entitled ‘The Mocking of Christ’. It is a masterwork by Albert Bouts portraying a sorrowful, blood-spattered Jesus. The windows of the cloister are adorned with the arms of more than 40 abbesses and nuns. In the interior one can also see the shrine of St Boniface, Brussels’s Bishop during the 13th Century. The coffin is small and contains only some of his remains as the rest were profaned at the time of the religious wars in the 17th Century.

The park behind the brick buildings of the abbey was designed as the series of beautifully maintained French walled and terraced gardens that can be entered free of charge. They were renovated by landscape architect Jules Buyssens between 1930 and 1932. Unlike the buildings of the former abbey, these delightful gardens are open to the public. This is an oasis of tranquility and an ideal place to unwind just minutes away from hustle and bustle of Louise Avenue. A beautiful view of the entire grounds can be obtained from the top of the terraced esplanade, where the pond that forms the source of the Mealbeek River is located. After a climb, one has a chance to admire the scenery enriched with terraces, lawns, trees, stairs, ramps and neatly clipped hedges, all this in the heart of the city. Against the background of lush greenery, a dazzling planting of Ghent azaleas and rhododendrons blooms during spring, while in the summer there are wonderful displays of colour with the formal rose garden. The gardens also serve as a picnic spot where visitors can take a break in a serene atmosphere.