The abbey was founded as a Cistercian house for women, an rarity for the order in the early 13th century.
The remains of Saint Boniface of Brussels are interred within the abbey church.
Following the French Revolution, the site was repurposed into a tobacco factory before later becoming a military hospital.
The site hosts a unique collection of 18th-century French-style gardens that retain their original geometric layout.
The architecture of the church demonstrates a transition from the original Gothic structure to significant baroque modifications added in the 18th century.
Abbaye de la Cambre is a former Cistercian nunnery founded in 1201 by Bernard of Clairvaux’s order, located in the Ixelles district of Brussels. The site features a 14th-century Gothic church and a series of 18th-century monastic buildings organized around a central cloister. Today, the complex houses the National Geographic Institute and the La Cambre fine arts school. The surrounding formal French gardens are designed with tiered terraces that overlook the lower monastery grounds. During the French Revolution, the abbey was suppressed and its contents were sold, leading to a period of institutional use. The church remains a consecrated Catholic parish serving the local community. The architecture reflects a transition from medieval structural elements to later classical monastic renovations. Visitors can explore the public gardens and the interior of the historic parish church.
From the highest point of the terraced gardens looking down toward the church spire and the reflective pond.
Walk through the terraced gardens to see the abbey from different elevations.
Combine your visit with a walk in the adjacent Bois de la Cambre park.
Check the parish notice board near the church entrance for local concert or event schedules.
Do not attempt to enter the buildings housing the National Geographic Institute or the university school, as these are restricted private spaces.
Dress modestly as the church is an active place of worship; maintain a quiet tone in the garden areas.
