La Cambre Abbey
La Cambre Abbey (French: Abbaye de La Cambre, pronounced [a.be.i d(ə) la kɑ̃bʁ]) or Ter Kameren Abbey (Dutch: Abdij Ter Kameren) is a former Cistercian abbey in the City of Brussels, Belgium. It is located in the Maelbeek valley between the Bois de la Cambre/Ter Kamerenbos and the Ixelles Ponds. The abbey church is a Catholic parish of the Archdiocese of Mechelen–Brussels and home to a community of Norbertine canons, while other parts of the monastery house the headquarters of the Belgian National Geographic Institute (NGI) and La Cambre, a prestigious visual arts school.
| La Cambre Abbey | |
|---|---|
View from the cour d'honneur (main courtyard) | |
| General information | |
| Type | Abbey |
| Architectural style |
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| Town or city | City of Brussels, Brussels-Capital Region |
| Country | Belgium |
| Coordinates | 50°49′08″N 4°22′27″E |
| Construction started | 1201 |
| Construction stopped | Deconsecrated in 1796 |
| Designations | Protected (30/06/1953) |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
| References | |
The abbey was founded around 1196 and reached its apogee in the 13th century. It was suppressed during the French Revolution. Most of today's buildings date from the 18th century; only the church, the refectory and the wing of the capitular hall maintain their medieval character. The simple abbey church houses Albert Bouts' early 16th-century oil painting The Mocking of Christ.