PHOTOS: Monastery turned into gorgeous hotel and restaurant in Western Hungary

In Sopronbánfalva, part of Sopron in Western Hungary, you enter a special world when you step into the monastery built against the church wall. The former monks’ cells have been converted into 23 en suite hotel rooms with purist furnishings, but with modern facilities. Take a look at these gorgeous hotel rooms!

In the Sopronbánfalva Monastery, ther are several possibilities to relax. According to turizmus.com, if you want to quietly contemplate and meditate, the building’s purist simplicity and pervasive sacrality make it the perfect place to do so. Want to get out of the walls but still not be around people? There are a number of hiking trails in the Lövérek in the Sopron Mountains.

Sopron, a favourite in Hungary

Over the years, Sopronbánfalva has grown into the city of Sopron, but it has retained its rural character. The stairs leading from the centre of the village to the church and monastery are worth a walk: they were built in 1718. The city offers a wealth of tourist attractions, cafés, restaurants and bars. Sopron’s most popular attraction is the Fire Tower, which is also the symbol of the city, says turizmus.com.

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Short history of the monastery

The Sopronbánfalva monastery stood on its present site even in the Middle Ages; however, few details from that period have survived for posterity. The Pauline fathers lived here until Turkish times. When the invaders marching on Vienna occupied and destroyed the monastery, they moved on to Wiener Neustadt. On their return, they renovated the building. When the Pauline order was dissolved in the 1700s, the former monastery became a garrison hospital.

The church building was purchased in 1827 by the Catholic community of the village. Later, the Carmelite sisters were given the monastery. After the communist regime dissolved the order of nuns, the monastery became a social home and later a mental health institute. After 1993, it stood empty.

Monastery turned into hotel

In 2004, Gábor Kovács bought the building, which opened its doors as a non-profit retreat, education and meditation centre in 2010, after renovation. Part of the complex is open to the public as a museum. The monastery has preserved all its original beauty, and the restored state of the building reflects its late 17th- and early 18th-century Baroque features.

During the renovation, the monastic cells were preserved and converted into rooms. A total of 12 renovated rooms on the floor of the monastery open onto the cloisters.

One of the most impressive rooms on the ground floor is the refectory or dining room. This is where the Monastery Restaurant, which is served by the building’s own kitchen, was installed during the renovation. Guests can dine here, but anyone can visit the restaurant by reservation and choose from the menu.

The monastery’s simple, harmonious communal spaces provide an ideal atmosphere for creative meetings, workshops, leadership training and spiritual programmes, as well as exclusive family events.