Ixelles, a commune of 73,000 in the
Brussels administrative district, lies immediately south of
Brussels Center -- for the most part. A narrow north-south sliver of Brussels Center actually divides Ixelles into two distinct pieces -- the commune is non-contiguous.
The Eurpopean Union has its parliamentary headquarters in Ixelles.
The Cistercian Abbey de la Cambre hosts an art school and a geographical institute. Parts of it are open to the public.