With spiritual & faith-based trips growing in popularity, Europe provides many monastic guest houses to fulfill one’s desire for spiritual growth & rejuvenation
Here are some of the top guest houses available in monasteries, abbeys and priories across Europe:
Saint Peter’s Abbey of Solesmes
Solesmes, France
The Solesmes Monastery is located along the Sarthe River, 160 miles southwest of Paris. About 80 monks and 60 nuns make up the monastic community. They are famous for their published recordings of the Gregorian chant. Visitors are encouraged to join the daily prayer, involving the singing of the Gregorian chant.
Solesmes can accommodate large groups and family visits. It offers guest houses and large dormitories with 18-46 beds, plus multi-purpose rooms for meetings, meals and other activities. Campgrounds are available for those who wish to have a more nature-filled experience. Silence is a strongly integrated part of this monastic retreat. The typical daily schedule includes reading, reflection, personal prayer and physical activities if one desires, as well as liturgical prayer and Mass attendance several times a day.
Mount Saint Joseph Abbey
Roscrea, Ireland
Located among medieval ruins on historic Celtic grounds about 45 miles outside of Limerick, the abbey functions as a dairy farm as well as a boys boarding school. The guest house accommodates 40 people. Maximum length of stay is one week.
Mount Saint Joseph Abbey is set among landscaped grounds, winding walkways, woodland areas and waterfalls. Visitors can also appreciate the buildings’ intricate stained-glass windows.
Monastery of the Virgin of the Olive Grove
Teruel, Spain
Founded in the early 13th century, the Monastery of the Virgin of the Olive Grove is famous for the extraordinary statue of the Virgin Mary. The abbey is located 100 miles south of Zaragoza. It is a popular destination on Sept. 24 when the shrine celebrates the Feast of Our Lady of Mercy.
Commonly used for religious retreats, the abbey offers 30 guest rooms, as well as conference halls and dining rooms that hold up to 75 people. There are two camping areas for youth activities. The day is structured by the eating schedule and respect for the tranquil environment. There are no other obligations; additional activities can be arranged as desired.
Abdij Onze Lieve Vrouw van Koningshoeven
Berkel-Enschot, Netherlands
This 19th century monastery is known for the brewery where the monks make Trappist beer, with its special recipe and unique aroma. Dedicated to silence and reflection, the monks observe a 21-hour general silence. The monastery is surrounded by forest and farmland conducive to walks; visitors also have access to the monastery gardens.
The Tasting Room, a striking thatched-roofed building, offers a small menu of the monastery’s own products, such as bread, cheese and chocolate. There are about 30 gues trooms available for individuals and groups. The abbey has conference facilities and meeting rooms for large group visits.
Aylesford Priory
Aylesford, England
Known as simply “The Friars,” this priory resides 35 miles outside of London. It accepts pilgrims from all over the world for individual and group retreats. The priory has two main public ministry centers dedicated to pilgrimages and retreats. Equipped to serve a large number of people, it has ample conference facilities for business groups, educational courses and religious groups. The 80-bedroom guest house can accommodate up to 100 people.
The Friars’ Peace Garden is divided into several small themed gardens aimed at creating a calm and gentle atmosphere for visitors. Dispersed around the garden are peace tiles in many different languages. The garden is used for poetry readings, school visits and retreats.
Stift Göttweig
Göttweig, Austria
Perched atop a hill overlooking the famous Danube Valley is the Benedictine Abbey of Göttweig. The abbey is best known for its cultural heritage including museums, art collections and concerts. This is home to the Kaiserstiege and ceiling fresco by Paul Troger, one of the largest and most beautiful staircases in all of Europe.
Some remnants of the abbey’s medieval buildings remain, allowing visitors to experience architectural history. Göttweig Abbey also functions as a restaurant serving featured regional cuisine. The guest house St. Altmann houses men and women interested in spiritual contemplation and silent retreat.
Abbey Notre Dame de Belloc
Urt, France
Located near the border of France and Spain, the abbey is surrounded by mountains and valleys. It is home to 25 Benedictine monks who create the cheese Abbaye de Belloc, known for its unique rind and texture. The abbey gift shop sells the cheese to visitors.
Daily Masses in French, Latin, and Gregorian chant are hosted in the chapel. The guest house has 18 single rooms, 10 double rooms and four dormitories. It provides guest lounges and conference rooms to accommodate large group visits. Maximum length of stay is six days.
Benedictine Abbey of Maredsous
Denée, Belgium
The abbey offers many things to explore including a library, souvenir shop, nature walks and guided tours. Visitors can purchase the abbey’s gourmet products of beer, cheese and pastries at the Saint-Joseph cafeteria.
The abbey’s guest house has 31 single rooms and 17 double rooms open to men and women. Cabins containing 49 beds are available for youth camps. There are lecture rooms with media capabilities that can hold groups of 15-40 people. If desired, retreats or sessions can be led by a monk.
Abtei Oberschönenfeld
Gessertshausen, Germany
Located just west of Munich, Abtei Oberschönenfeld is home to a community of Cistercian monks. The monastery store sells food and artistic products made by the monks. The chapel is decorated with paintings and sculptures that represent Cistercian spirituality. Mass and other religious services are open to the public and are carried out in Gregorian chant.
The abbey’s guest house has 13 single rooms and 14 doubles room available to visitors. It has a large conference room that can hold 50-60 people and four smaller rooms that can accommodate 8-25 people.
Monastery St. Vincent
Bassano Romano, Italy
Monastery St. Vincent, built in 1630, is located just north of Rome. The monks dedicate their days to praying and encourage visitors to do the same. Every Tuesday and Thursday the monks host a radio program discussing religious and cultural topics.
The monastery welcomes church retreats, training sessions and school trips. It is a popular destination for large group outings because of its proximity to Rome. For conferences and meetings, the monastery is equipped with a room that can seat 200 people. Single, double and triple rooms are available for visitors as well as a football field, garden and courtyard.
Monastero Madonna dell’Eucaristia
Rome, Italy
The monastery was established in 2005 and was a gift to His Holiness Pope John Paul II for the Year of the Eucharist. The official inauguration was held on March 18, 2016.
The guest house is run by an order of Benedictine Sisters, who are officially known as the Adorers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Montmartre OSB. The sisters invite guests for rest and relaxation and even welcome them for daily services. There are different rooms available including a single with a private bathroom and then rooms with twin beds that either feature a private or shared bathroom.
Himmerod Abbey
Großlittgen, Germany
Founded nearly 900 years ago, Himmerod Abbey is a Cistercian monastery located near the oldest city in Germany. For centuries, the monks that lived there served God through prayer and work according to the Rule of St. Benedict. The congregation, unfortunately, closed in 2017, but the abbey has continued to be preserved as a spiritual place.
The abbey’s guest house has space for up to 60 people and offers single, double, or multi-bed rooms. The rooms are decorated in a monastic manner featuring simplistic furnishings and mostly include shared bathrooms with only 4 single and 4 double rooms having private bathrooms. The guest house also features its own group and conference rooms that can fit up to 30 people.
Santuari de Lluc
Lluc, Spain
Surrounded by high mountains stands what is considered to be the most important pilgrimage site in Majorca, the Santuari de Lluc. It was founded in the 13th century after a statue of the Virgin Mary was discovered on the site by a Moorish shepherd. The monastery is also home to the Blauets, a choir group who hold regular performances throughout the day with special concerts held during Easter week and Christmas.
The monastery features accommodations for guests with 81 rooms and 39 apartments all including kitchens, private bathrooms, TVs and central heating. The rooms all come with a view whether they overlook the mountains or the beautiful central courtyard.
Einsiedeln Abbey
Einsiedeln, Switzerland
Located in the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland, the Einsiedeln Abbey is dedicated to Our Lady of the Hermits and is named after a Saint Meinrad, a hermit, who was the first inhabitant of the region. The Hermit Benedictines who reside at the abbey are characterized by their incredible diversity in personality and talents as well as for their work in many different areas including pilgrimage, parish pastoral care and the grammar school.
The monastery includes group accommodation with 2 bedrooms with 16 beds each and then a single room or twin bedroom. Other features include a lounge with a modest kitchen and a training room that has space for around 20 people. There are also rooms available for pilgrims for overnight stays through the year with one room with two beds and then another room with six beds.
Monastero di Santa Scolastica
Subiaco, Italy
Until the end of the 12th century, the Monastero di Santa Scolastica was the only monastery in Subiaco after the other twelve built by St. Benedict were wrecked by earthquakes and Saracen destruction. The monastery is arranged to be parallel to the Subiaco valley, which is also known as the “holy valley” since hermits and monks lived there for centuries in prayer and contemplation.
The rooms offered for guest can be double, triple or quadruple and all come with private bathrooms. Restaurant services are also offered to guests with water and/or wine included with meals.
by Megan O’Brien
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