Vorau Abbey, was founded in 1163 and is the only Augustinian monastery that still exists in Styria. The impressive complex of buildings in the style of the Viennese High ... read more
Vatican Gardens, covering around 23 hectares (57 acres), were created during the Renaissance and Baroque, with later additions. The gardens can be visited only by guided ... read more
The Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste is a Hieronymite monastery founded in 1408-1414. It has become famous as the retreat of Emperor Charles V in 1556, and where he ... read more
The Royal Monastery of Pedralbes, today a museum showing the collections of the Museum of Barcelona, dates back to the 14th century. It was founded by Queen Elisenda de ... read more
The El Escorial Abbey Palace is the immense complex, built by Philip II, in honour of his father Charles V. It is a Royal Palace, a monastery, a mausoleum, with stunning ... read more
Royal Carthusian Monastery of Valldemossa dates back to 1309 when it was built as a Royal palace. It became a monastery in 1399. Chopin stayed here in winter 1838-1839 ... read more
The Riddarholm Church is the final resting place of the Swedish kings, and is Stockholm's only preserved mediaeval abbey. The church is open during the summer ... read more
Pöllau Castle became a monastery after the death in 1482 of its owner, Hans von Neuberg, who had stipulated that the castle had to be converted into an an Augustinian ... read more
The Prieuré d'Orsan dates back to the 12th century. The highly sophisticated recreated kitchen gardens, with many garden rooms, are open to the public. The ... read more
Pazo de San Lorenzo dates back to the 13th century, and is a monastery converted into a palace. It is used for corporate and private events amidst pleasant ... read more
National Palace of Mafra, today a museum, has been built as the result of a vow of King João V (1689-1750) had made to built a convent, in case his wife, Queen Maria ... read more
Monastery Wernberg Castle (Kloster Schloss Wernberg) is a historic place where you can spend a peaceful day, or several days at the monastery's guesthouse, far away ... read more
Le prieuré Saint-Cosme dates back to 11th century and is built on an island in the Loire. Today it houses a museum dedicated to the poet Ronsard (1524-1585), who was ... read more
La Cervara Monastery of San Girolamo dates back to 1361, and is today in private hands. The abbey, surrounded by beautiful gardens, is open to the public for cultural, ... read more
Kylemore Abbey was built in 1868 as a stunning castle but is since 1920 home of the Benedictine community of nuns. The castle has a Victorian Walled Garden (6 acres), ... read more
The Kiscell Museum, a division of the Budapest History Museum, is housed in an 18th-century monastery, which was converted in 1910 into a luxurious mansion by the art ... read more
Jardim Do Paco Episcopal de Castelo Branco is a magnificent Baroque garden, commissioned by the Bishop of Guarda, D. João de Mendonça (1711-1736). The Garden is divided ... read more
Hostal de los Reyes Catolicos dates back to 1499, built as a Royal Hospital for pilgrims travelling to Santiago. Today, still a hotel, it is considered the oldest hotel ... read more
Festenburg Castle, originally a military fortress, has been in the possession of Vorau Abbey since 1616. It got its present outlook in 1700, when it was rebuilt. The ... read more
Delapre Abbey dates back to the 12th century when it was a nunnery of the Cluniac order. After 1535 the Abbey became a country estate under the Tates and Bouveries ... read more