Which monastery in Austria is right for your retreat?
Those seeking a monastery in Austria for a few quiet days are often not simply looking for accommodation. It's usually about something else. Do you truly want to live in an abbey, with simple rooms and a structured daily routine? Or are you looking for a place where therapeutic treatments, good food, or fasting play a more prominent role?
This is precisely what distinguishes the three hotels we visited on our trip. One is better suited for a simple retreat in a monastery. The other two combine monastic tranquility with offerings focused on nutrition, treatments, and personal retreat. This is exactly why it's worth taking a closer look before booking.
Three houses that are clearly different
St. Lambrecht Abbey in Styria is particularly suitable if you truly want to live in a monastery and are comfortable with simple accommodations. Bad Mühllacken in Upper Austria focuses more on nutrition, herbs, and peaceful days in a relaxed environment. Bad Kreuzen takes this a step further, emphasizing health retreats and treatments.
All three places are suitable for a break from everyday life. Nevertheless, a stay in each feels very different. That's precisely what makes the difference in the end.
St. Lambrecht Abbey in Styria
St. Lambrecht Abbey is the place that most closely resembled our classic image of a retreat in a monastery. Even upon arrival, we noticed how strongly the abbey shapes the place. The large building with its courtyards feels enclosed and tranquil. You immediately have the feeling of entering its own little world.
We were greeted there by Father Gerwig and, after lunch, settled into our rooms in the guesthouse. Our room was simple. It contained a bed, a table, and a shower. That was all we needed. There was no television or radio. Internet access was only available in certain rooms of the main building. This, in particular, made our stay different from that of ordinary accommodation.
Those who come here shouldn't expect a wellness retreat with all the comforts. Stift St. Lambrecht is the right place if you consciously seek tranquility and are comfortable with a more relaxed pace of life. It's less suitable if you primarily associate relaxation with spa treatments, therapies, or a hotel-like atmosphere.
What we remember most is the peace and quiet. We found it very pleasant for a day or two. At the same time, we also realized that this kind of retreat isn't easy for everyone. Those coming from a hectic daily routine need time to adjust to the silence.
A stay at St. Lambrecht involves more than just the guesthouse. The baroque garden brightens up the day and provides a gentle counterpoint to the abbey's austere walls and corridors.
In the afternoon we visited the garden and felt it suited the location well. Medicinal herbs, roses, and water features lend it a tranquil order. Anyone who enjoys a leisurely stroll will find it a pleasant place to be.
The abbey museum is also worth a visit. So, anyone seeking not just peace and quiet, but wishing to combine their stay with culture, will find more than just a simple room behind monastery walls in St. Lambrecht.
St. Lambrecht Benedictine Abbey*
Hauptstraße 1
8813 St. Lambrecht
More tips for Styria
A trip worth it to the nearby Murau in the Mur Valley. A nice one is also Hike around the collegiate areaIf you'd like to see more monasteries in the region, a side trip to [location name] is also worthwhile. Rein Abbey and Maria Straßengel.
Bad Mühllacken in Upper Austria
From the very beginning, Bad Mühllacken felt different to us than a traditional monastery with guest rooms. The building is more reminiscent of a quiet spa resort than a monastery in the usual sense. Nevertheless, you can still sense that daily life slows down here.
What struck us most was how much there revolves around nutrition, herbs, and a tranquil lifestyle. This made Bad Mühllacken a perfect fit for us, especially if you're looking for a break that combines relaxation with mindful eating and a more relaxed daily routine.
The cuisine, in particular, left a lasting impression. Herbs from the garden, carefully prepared dishes, and the tranquil atmosphere of the house complemented each other perfectly. Those who find fasting, herbs, or a more mindful diet appealing will likely feel more at home here than someone looking for a traditional wellness hotel.
In our opinion, Bad Mühllacken is less suitable if you're primarily looking for a traditional monastery experience. The building feels too much like a blend of retreat and health resort. However, its location in the Pesenbach valley is very pleasant, making it easy to combine time spent indoors with outdoor activities.
That's exactly what we liked about it. You're not just stuck inside; you can go outside whenever you want without having to drive far. This makes the stay particularly pleasant if you're looking for peace and quiet but don't want to spend the whole day indoors.
Bad Kreuzen in Upper Austria
In Bad Kreuzen, we found the place that most strongly focused on a health retreat. There, too, you can feel the monastic influence, but it manifests itself differently than in St. Lambrecht. The stay is more guided and more focused on treatments.
If you're looking for a structured setting for a few days and want more than just peace and quiet, but also treatments or health support, then Bad Kreuzen is probably the best of the three options for you. It feels more comfortable than a simple guest room in a monastery and at the same time more welcoming than a typical hotel.
In our view, this is precisely where the strength of the establishment lies. Those simply seeking solitude might be better served in a convent. However, those who appreciate a more structured stay and the integration of treatments into their retreat will find this a more suitable environment.
We noticed that the stay there felt more structured. This can be a relief if you don't want to organize everything yourself. However, Bad Kreuzen is less suitable if you specifically want very simple accommodations or aren't interested in spa treatments.
Which of the three monasteries suits you best?
If you truly want to live in a monastery and experience a more understated retreat, we would recommend looking at St. Lambrecht Abbey first. There, the focus is more on peace, simplicity, and retreating behind monastery walls.
Bad Mühllacken is a better fit if nutrition, herbs, and a peaceful stay are more important to you than a traditional monastic atmosphere. There, many things feel more down-to-earth and yet very mindful.
We would recommend Bad Kreuzen if you're looking for a wellness retreat where treatments and support are included from the very beginning. Of the three hotels, in our opinion, it's the best choice for anyone who wants to experience peace and quiet not only in a secluded setting but also in a supervised environment.
More monastery experiences in Austria
We visited other monasteries in Austria and wrote about them on the blog. If you'd like to delve deeper into the topic, you can also find impressions from our [website/publication] here. Stams Abbey in Tyrol, from the Benedictine monastery of St. Paul in Lavanttal, from the Melk Abbey or from the Wernberg Abbey in CarinthiaAlso to Retreats in a monastery and to Monastic fasting We have already gained experience.
Travel arrangements for the three monasteries
If you don't want to stay directly at the monastery or would like to combine your trip with other stops, you can view accommodations in the surrounding area through our partners. Hotels in St. Lambrecht * or Bad Kreuzen * here.
If you book via a link marked *, we receive a commission, which we use to run this blog.
Source: our own on-site research. We thank Klösterreich for the invitation to this trip to the three monasteries in Austria. Our opinion remains unaffected.
Text: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Photos: © Copyright Monika Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
Video: © Copyright Petar Fuchs and TravelWorldOnline
These monasteries are really adorable. I'm happy if you like it here in Austria. LG!
We like Austria very much. We discover new interesting places with each visit.
Austria is just great :-)
Lg
Alex & Birgitta
I can only agree with that, dear Alex and dear Birgitta. We especially like how versatile the country is.
That sounds really exciting. I imagine, this monastic silence is an optimal environment, for example, to retire to write. Walk in the monastery garden, look at the flowers, a little contemplation and good food: rest for body and soul. And silence.
To write, a stay in the monastery is perfect. There is nothing that distracts you. And collect ideas in the monastery garden - a great idea.
An exit on time in a Benedictine monastery can be beneficial. Leaving everyday life behind and giving in to the strict rhythm of the rule of the Order gives room for reflection. Much today demands attention. Our time is getting more and more tightly timed. Easily creates stress with unpleasant consequences. A stay in the monastery can help to look back inside and to find the inner balance. Greetings Andreas
You get an eye for the essentials again, Andreas. I think you're right.
It is exciting how different monasteries have adapted to our needs and offer their guests a certain luxury. I myself love the “Spartan” retreat into monastic life. After a few days with little (digital), culinary and other distractions, I can appreciate our “everyday luxury” much more.
Yes, that surprised me too. But it does not have to be that Spartan with me. The roast with bread dumplings was delicious :). But the silence and the retreat in an environment without TV and internet is doing really well.
That's another world, but I can well imagine a few days doing well in a monastery. To reflect on what is really important to you. Anyway, your report sounds like a few relaxing days and shows that you do not have to do without any luxury at all.
You're right, Antje. It's another world, far removed from what we experience every day. Here calm and silence dominate.