Hotel Klosterbräu, Tyrol/Austria

Built: 1516
Hotel since: 1809

Spa in the former monastery cellar © Klosterbräu Hotel & Spa/David Johansson

This estate in the middle of the small town of Seefeld in Tyrol accommodated the Augustinian Order from the 16. to the 19. Century. It was a much welcome retreat for pilgrims and transients for over 200 years. In 1809, the Seyrling family acquired the former monastery. The hotel has been rebuilt and expanded several times. Today, the sixth generation is in charge. The "Klosterbräu" features beautiful suites, an extensive wellness area (including a beer sauna!), and several pools. Since 2021, the property once again has its own farm.

Hotel Klosterbräu
Klosterstraße 30, 6100 Seefeld in Tirol, Tyrol, Austria
Web: klosterbraeu.com
Tel.: +43 5212 2621
Price: doubles incl. breakfast from €390

San Domenico Palace, Taormina/Italy

Built: 1430
Hotel since: 1896

Former monk's cell © Four Seasons

Taormina is one of the most beautiful cities in Sicily, one with a lot of history. In 1374, Dominicans took residency in Taormina. In 1430, they turned the oldest building in the city into a monastery. Turned into a hotel in 1896, it reopened in 2021 after extensive renovations as part of the Four Seasons portfolio. The service is, of course, excellent. So is the cuisine, and and the interior design. From the balconies of some suites, you can enjoy a view of Mount Etna. The hotel gained popularty when it appeared in the second season of "The White Lotus". Vacationing in a monastery has never been so luxurious!

San Domenico Palace, a Four Seasons Hotel
Piazza S. Domenico de Guzman, 5, 98039 Taormina ME, Italy
Web: fourseasons.com
Tel.: +39 0942 613111
Price: doubles from €760

Botanic Sanctuary, Antwerp/Belgium

Built: 1238
Hotel since: 1989

Suite © Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp

The imposing building served for about 750 years first as a convent, then as a hospital run by nuns, until the last nuns left the property in 1989. During the 1990s, extensive renovations and expansions took place. Finally, in 2019, the current owner took over the former home and place of work of the Augustinian nuns and created the "Botanic Sanctuary." Large parts of the original structure were preserved. The luxurious hotel includes four Michelin-starred restaurants, and an outstanding spa.

Botanic Sanctuary Antwerp
Leopoldstraat 26/Lange Gasthuisstraat 45, 
2000 Antwerp, Belgium
Tel: +32 3 2690000
Web: botanicantwerp.be 
Price: doubles from €295

Son Brull Hotel & Spa, Mallorca/Spain

Built: 12th century.
Hotel since: 2004

Garden © Son Brull Hotel & Spa

Builtin the 12th century as a farmhouse, the building housed monks from the 18th century onward. The former Jesuit monastery on the foothills of the Tramuntana mountains was long abandoned when the three Suau siblings started renovations. With great attention to detail, the property has become one of the most beautiful boutique hotels on Mallorca. Sustainability and authenticity are two important factors. Vacations at the monastery include fine wines from its own vineyard, and a restaurant that sources its ingredients from the hotel's own garden. In the spa, the focus is on relaxation.

Son Brull Hotel & Spa
Ctra. Palma -Puerto Pollença, Km. 50, 07460 Pollença, Balearic Islands, Spain
Web: sonbrull.com
Tel: +34 971 53 53 
Price: doubles from €310

The Wellem, Düsseldorf/Germany

Built: 1923
Hotel since: 2017

Exterior view © Hyatt

"The Wellem" was the first hotel of the independent collection "The Unbound Collection by Hyatt" to open in Germany in 2020. The former "Hyatt House" in the center of Düsseldorf's old town was significantly upgraded and yet, the historic charm was retained. Formerly a convent for coelestial nuns, then a palace of justice, today a hotel with 102 studios and suites, "The Wellem" is one of the best hotels in Düsseldorf. The works of internationally known artists such as Jeff Koons and Julian Schnabel, which are on display throughout the hotel, represent just one of the highlights. Another is the steak house "MASH" that offers delicacies including dry-aged steak and other meat specialties.

The Wellem
Mühlenstraße 34, 40213 Düsseldorf, Germany
Web: hyatt.com
Tel.: +49 211 547 650 622
Price: doubles incl. breakfast from €400