Checking In | Sleeping in a Monastery-Turned-Wellness Hotel in Quebec City
Le Monastere des Augustines stands tall in the heart of Old Quebec City. Here, guests sleep in a 17th-century monastery and hospital turned luxury wellness hotel. A few days here is not only a check on a bucket list, but has the potential to be a life-changing wellness retreat.
I often compare Quebec City to a European village dropped in a Canadian province. It is worth visiting for its quaintness alone. But the real reason I returned for my fourth visit? To finally stay at Le Monastere des Augustines.
During my stay, I slept in a former nun’s room, ate breakfast in silence, wandered the halls alongside Augustinian sisters, took tai chi classes in the ancient vaults, had the most luxurious massage of my life, and left feeling much more at peace. I couldn’t recommend staying at Le Monastere des Augustines more highly.
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*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may make a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Endless Distances.
*Our stay at Le Monastere des Augustines was hosted by the hotel and Quebec City Tourism. I specifically requested to stay here because I had dreamed of visiting this hotel for years, and I wanted to share its story. As always, all opinions are my own!
What makes Le Monastere des Augustines special?
Le Monastere des Augustines was founded in 1639 by the Augustinian Sisters, who traveled to Quebec from France. Through the centuries, the sisters worshipped and lived at the monastery. They also worked as healers and eventually nurses in the attached hospital.
In more recent years, though, the sisters numbers have fallen. There are now only eight left. They still live at Le Monastere des Augustines – if you stay here, you will probably meet them as they walk the halls in their white habits. To preserve their history, the sisters transformed their home into what it is today: A luxury wellness hotel and museum.
Related: 29 Things to do in Quebec City in Winter
In forming Le Monastere des Augustines hotel, the goal was to retain history, and also stay true to the sisters’ mission of healing. This is done in a secular way, welcoming people of all religions, nationalities, and philosophies.
The hotel is an oasis of calm and healing, featuring mindfulness classes, organic meals, and bodywork treatments. It has also stayed true to its roots by offering complimentary stays to caregivers from across the region.
Staying at Le Monastere des Augustines: The rooms
When you book a stay at Le Monastere des Augustines, you can choose between two room types. The contemporary rooms are more modern and spacious, and located on the top floor. The authentic rooms are the original rooms the nuns slept in, refurbished yet keeping the simplistic style.
Sleeping in an authentic nun’s chamber
I chose to stay in an authentic room – sleeping in one of the original sisters’ rooms was an experience in and of itself and I’m glad I chose this.
The rooms are located along a wide hallway, with their original low wooden door frames (people were much shorter in the 1600s!). Our room had two twin beds, each covered with a quilt hand sewn by local Quebec residents.
Our window overlooked the attached hospital (Hôtel-Dieu, which still operates today). We also had complimentary, pillowy white robes in the closet.
Unlike the contemporary rooms, the authentic rooms do not have their own private bathroom (this is one reason they cost less). I thought this might be the one area I’d be disappointed – I can be picky when it comes to bathrooms. However I was delighted that the shared bathrooms were actually spacious, private, single rooms, immaculately clean, and had the best water pressure.
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Amenities and things to do at Le Monastere des Augustines
I’m not exaggerating when I say you could come to Quebec City and stay inside Le Monastere des Augustines the entire time. We did explore many of Quebec City’s offerings on this trip, but it was always a little bittersweet to tear ourselves away from Le Monastere.
Breakfast in silence | Each morning, a communal breakfast is held in silence, honoring the tradition of the sisters. The food is locally sourced and organic, and I looked forward to it each day.
Six course dinner | The on site restaurant also offers lunch and dinner. I recommend enjoying the gourmet, multi-course dinner which is offered Tuesday-Saturday – it’s truly an experience in and of itself. A buffet dinner is offered Sunday and Monday. You don’t have to be a guest to enjoy a meal here, either.
Related: A Gluten Free Guide to Quebec City, Canada
Massage | There is an entire menu of massages and holistic bodywork treatments that range from $35-170. I enjoyed the Monastic Signature massage, which is 90 minutes of essential oils, medicinal plant extracts (in the ancient style of the sisters), and many massage styles from reflexology to Thai to sports massage.
Meditation walks | Each week has a special schedule of events, including meditation walks. These are led walks throughout the monastery itself, or in warm weather through the sisters’ gardens.
Tai chi and yoga classes | The weekly schedule also includes various exercise and mindfulness classes, held in the vaults. We took a tai chi class, which was taught in a mixture of French and English, that I will remember forever. My mom loved the class so much that she signed up for a six-class session back at home.
Museum and tours | Le Monastere des Augustines is home to a permanent museum exhibition, an archive collection, and the center dedicated to Catherine-de-Saint Augustine. I recommend taking a guided tour (I’ve actually taken it twice!), which is open to guests and non-guests alike.
Boutique | There is a lovely on-site boutique which has many holistic and wellness products produced in Quebec. This is the perfect place to pick up some souvenirs – I personally recommend the honey made from urban bees in Quebec City, the herbal teas (made from the Augustinian Sisters’ original recipes), and the essential oil.
Vespers | Although Le Monastere des Augustines is a non-religious place of rest for all people, the Augustinian Sisters do still live and worship here (in their original church, which the hotel is ingeniously constructed around). Their vespers services are held each evening, where the eight sisters sing hymns together. Regardless of religion or spirituality, it is a very meditative and special thing to witness, and I recommend attending.
Things to do in Quebec City
If you can manage to leave the calming confines of Le Monastere des Augustines, Quebec City itself does have a lot to offer.
To keep the wellness theme going, I would recommend a walk (or taxi) to Strom Spa Nordique. This is a thermal spa in Quebec City, located on the banks of the Saint Lawrence River.
We spent an entire day at this spa, enjoying the traditional Nordic technique of hot-cold-relax-repeat. There are outdoor infinity pools, and even the world’s largest epsom salt pool (where you feel like you’re floating completely weightlessly).
Read Strom Spa Reviews | Book Your Spa Day
There are plenty of other activities in Quebec City – from exploring the magical Quartier du Petit Champlain, to a panoramic ferry ride to Levis, and more. Read my post on things to do in Quebec City in winter for more suggestions – many of which work in all seasons!
Related: 29 Things to do in Quebec City in Winter
The details
What? Le Monastere des Augustines, a monastery and hospital turned wellness hotel
Where? Old Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
How much are rates? Rates vary based on season and room type chosen. You can check best available rates here.
How do I book? Check reviews here, and book your stay here.
I dreamed of staying at Le Monastere des Augustines for a very long time, and driving across Canada to experience it was worth every minute. After three days, I left Le Monastere with my shoulders a bit lower, my jaw less tense, my belly full of organic foods, and smelling like rosemary and lavender. It was particularly special to share this experience with my mom, who also had Le Monastere des Augustines high on her own bucket list. I will remember this stay with fond memories for years to come … and I count down until my next visit!
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Sarah xx
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*This blog post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, I may make a commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting Endless Distances.
*Our stay at Le Monastere des Augustines was hosted by the hotel and Quebec City Tourism. I specifically requested to stay here because I had dreamed of visiting this hotel for years, and I wanted to share its story. As always, all opinions are my own!