Kloster Hornbach

Monasteries aren’t the only ancient lodgings that are well suited for conversion into luxury hotels, but in a way, a Benedictine monastery, such as Kloster Hornbach, in the Rhineland-Palatinate, might be the most appropriate of all. The Benedictine tradition is all about hospitality, and we’re not being entirely flippant when we say the Benedictine monasteries practically invented what we now think of as extraordinary hotel service. Let everyone that comes be received as Christ, says the Rule, which today’s secular hoteliers might take to mean rolling out the red carpet for each and every guest; and the injunction to avoid lingering with guests might be the what we mean when we say that a good hotel staff is a model of discretion.

It’s been a while since Kloster Hornbach was a working Benedictine monastery, to be fair, but they’re quite conscious of their heritage. There’s still plenty of contemplation going on, alongside the more typical forms of leisure. And the rooms have seen some sprucing-up as well; even the relatively austere Shaker and Pilgrim rooms are attractively styled and vibrantly colored, and the Mediterranean, Asian and African-style rooms push on further from there.

The monastery’s former dining hall has been divided into no fewer than three restaurants, offering some variety for long-stay guests. You’ll want to make time for some outdoor lounging as well, in the hotel’s gardens, terrace and courtyard. And like any good German hotel, this one comes fully equipped with wellness facilities, including an expansive spa, and an indoor swimming pool.