Has anyone had success staying in a Monastery in Spain? There seem to be quite a few on this website http://www.guiasmonasterios.com/, which is all in Spanish. I was curious if anyone has actually stayed in one located in one of the larger cities (Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla).

I've done so in Vienna, and it was a great experience, and pretty cost-effective. I think it's more prominent in Italy, however, the prices seem to be a bit steep.

If anyone has any feedback about doing this in Spain, I'd appreciate it!

KB, off-topic, but how and where was your Vienna stay?

I think the Bed and Blessings book has some Spanish monasteries listed.

I just found my reply to someone on another post about this. Here are the details, and thanks for the tip on Bed and Blessings:

Yes, the information is below. We stayed here over New Year's 2008, so the price might have been inflated as a result. I'm not sure. And I dealt with them via email to reserve, which was really easy, but upon check-in, the nun didn't speak English. It was actually quite comical and all was fine eventually!

Our double room with breakfast was €82/night, and here is the contact info:

Gästehaus Deutscher Orden
Singerstr. 7/1
A-1010 Wien
[email protected]
Phone: 004315121065

It's very prominent in Italy because the govt gave them tax breaks for doing that. Now that's what I've read, but you wouldn't think the church would pay taxes, but maybe they get "refunds" or something. I know the govt. encouraged it and made it financially attractive to them.

I have the Eileen Barish book for Italy - Lodging in Italy's Monasteries which is quite good. She has also written one for Spain.

http://www.amazon.com/Lodging-Spains...519347-4142411

Don't waste your money on any books by Kevin Wright. They are useless.

It appears your convent in Vienna has several other locations including a spa and a convent in Rome.

http://www.deutscher-orden.at/conten...ser/index.html

Madridman.com has lots of budget listings (not just Madrid). I don't know if convents are included, but you might check the website.

The only convent we've stayed in lately is the 4-star San Francisco Hotel Monumento in Santiago. It's a 16th-century monastery that you share with the monks who still live there.

http://www.paradores-spain.com/?gcli...FR9N5QodSyYvqQ

The Paradores include former monastaries. But there are no Paraodres in Barcelona, Madrid, or Sevilla.

Thanks everyone!

I stayed in the Monasterio de Lyre in the North of Spain. It was a great location and not too expensive. I have some pictures of the monastery on this page
http://www.jeremytaylor.eu/cycling_over_pyrenees_4.htm
And the monastery itself has a website - though only in Spanish.
http://www.monasteriodeleyre.com/
Have a great trip!

concur with comments re leire/leyre in navarra. fantastic location and evensong is something else even for the non-religious (and you can buy a CD!). good hosteleria, good restaurant, wondderful part of spain