Educational Leave with Fasting, Detox, Yoga, Hiking, and Stress Management at Waldbreitbach Monastery
Waldbreitbach, Germany
$1,174 / 5 Days
Monastery Retreats in Germany
A monastery retreat in Germany means: old walls, a clear daily structure, silence as the main element. 49 programs spread across Benedictine, Cistercian, Franciscan and ecumenical houses, with focal points in North Rhine-Westphalia, Hesse, Bavaria and Thuringia. Three to seven days is the typical duration, prices range from €220 to €1.880 euros. Most programs include simple full board, a single room in the guest wing, and participation in the canonical hours.
49 curated retreats
4.9
(232 reviews)
from
€226
Loving Attention Just for Me — Self-Love Workshop: Stress-Free Advent
Wald-Michelbach, Germany
$346 / 3 Days
4.7
🧘🏻Stress-Free at the Monastery—3-Day Mindfulness Retreat with Health Insurance Coverage
Schöntal, Germany
$332 / 3 Days
5.0
Spring & Fall Yoga, Hiking & Fasting Retreat at Lehnin Monastery - All Inclusive
Kloster Lehnin, Germany
$1,307 / 7 Days
RETREAT: TIME OUT WITH HORSES JUST FOR YOU
Wiesenburg/Mark, Germany
$995 / 3 Days
5.0
2 Days of Meditation and Self-Exploration Near Cologne, Germany
Leverkusen, Germany
$313 / 3 Days
New Year's Eve - Inner reflection
Gerode, Germany
$870 / 5 Days
Stress relief, painting and drawing at Bernried Monastery on Lake Starnberg
Bernried, Germany
$330 / 5 Days
5.0
A Retreat at Gerode Abbey
Gerode,Sonnenstein, Germany
$567 / 4 Days
GET OUT OF THE THOUGHT CAROUSEL: How to leave stressful thoughts behind you
Wiesenburg/Mark, Germany
$771 / 3 Days
5.0
Alkaline Fasting — Acidosis Detox Programs at the Gerode Monastery Retreat Center
Sonnenstein, Germany
$2,573 / 11 Days
Peace and Quiet While Painting and Drawing at Marienstatt Abbey
Streithausen, Germany
$441 / 5 Days
5.0
Meditations-Retreat im Kloster Gerode - Finding Stillness
Sonnenstein, OT Gerode, Germany
$901 / 5 Days
Painting and drawing in the Alterode vicarage
Alterode, Germany
$330 / 5 Days
Meditative Archery
Gerode, Sonnenstein, Germany
$846 / 4 Days
Yoga retreat at the monastery on Lake Starnberg
Bernried am Starnberger See, Germany
$726 / 3 Days
1 Stress relief, painting, and drawing at Schlossgut Schmochtitz
Bautzen, Germany
$330 / 5 Days
New Year's Silent Retreat at Ottobeuren Abbey — Embracing the New in Silence
Ottobeuren, Germany
$380 / 4 Days
Geroder Days of Fasting — Experiencing Fullness in Emptiness
Gerode, Sonnenstein, Germany
$2,080 / 11 Days
BenefitYoga® Annual Group - Getting Closer to What Matters Most
Gerode, Germany
$512 / 3 Days
Peace and Quiet While Painting and Drawing at Niederaltaich Abbey
Niederalteich, Germany
$330 / 5 Days
Farewell and a New Beginning
Gerode, Sonnenstein, Germany
$846 / 4 Days
3 Days for Myself — "Toward the Heart" at the Monastery
Wald-Michelbach, Germany
$444
$388
Frühbucher
/ 3 Days
Handpan Weekend at Gut Saunstorf Monastery
Bobitz, Germany
$380 / 3 Days
New retreats straight to your inbox?
So you always stay up to date.
We take data protection very seriously. Further information
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be religious to do a monastery retreat?
No. Most German monasteries offering retreats welcome guests regardless of their belief. The prerequisite is respect for house rules and for the community's life. Anyone coming from inner distance to the church still finds a place because the houses separate clearly between hosted guests and the order community. Canonical hours are an offer, not an obligation. Spiritual guidance is offered but not imposed. Anyone explicitly not wanting religious conversation can note this at booking.
How much does a monastery retreat in Germany cost?
Prices currently range from €220 to €1.880 euros for a weekend or a week, with an average of around €571 euros. Monasteries are significantly cheaper than commercial retreat houses because cost coverage is enough and no profit margin is included. A weekend with full board and single room often sits between one hundred and fifty and three hundred euros. Longer stays with one-to-one guidance or exercises are more expensive because a companion works individually with you. Donations are welcome in many houses but not expected.
How long should my first monastery retreat last?
For a first retreat, a weekend of three days is a good entry. That gives two full days in the monastery structure without silence becoming too long. Anyone who has been in a monastery before or has a meditation practice benefits from five to seven days, because the effect of silence usually only takes hold from day three. Exercises last eight or ten days in their classical form and are more the choice for a second or third retreat, not the first.
Which German state suits my first monastery retreat?
For a first retreat, North Rhine-Westphalia and Hesse work best because house density is highest there and travel from most major German cities stays short. Anyone coming from the south finds a comparable selection in Bavaria with somewhat larger, more traditional houses. Thuringia is a recommendation for anyone seeking smaller houses, lower prices and especially quiet locations. When choosing, it is also worth asking whether a Benedictine, Cistercian, Franciscan or ecumenical house fits your expectation.
What is accommodation like in a German monastery?
Accommodation is usually in the guest wing, separate from the order's living area. Single rooms are the standard, often with private shower and toilet, in older houses sometimes with shared bathrooms on the corridor. Rooms are plainly furnished: bed, desk, chair, sometimes a simple cross on the wall. Bedding and towels are provided. WiFi is available in many houses in common areas, not everywhere in the rooms. Anyone wanting a particularly quiet room can ask for one facing the inner courtyard or the garden.
Can I also do a monastery retreat in a difficult life phase (grief, crisis)?
Yes, explicitly. Many German monasteries have offerings for people in special life phases: after a loss, after a separation, after burn-out, before professional reorientation. These programs are usually thematically framed and have a spiritual companion regularly available. Important: an acute psychological crisis is better accompanied therapeutically first; a monastery retreat does not replace therapy but can be a good frame for therapeutic work already under way. Houses are happy to consult at registration whether your situation fits the program.