Vadstena Klosterhotel: Time and space to embrace your inner journey

The charming Vadstena Klosterhotel perfectly blends old and new. With a rich past as a glamorous palace and later a monastery with its own brewery, nowadays this is an award-winning spa hotel – a place where you can switch off and relax.

The town of Vadstena has a fascinating history. During the first half of the 14th century, Vadstena Castle housed royal parties so glamorous, they were the envy of Europe’s entire aristocracy. In 1350, Saint Bridget of Sweden took the palace and transformed it into a monastery, a stronghold for quiet, spartan living.

These days, Vadstena Klosterhotel is a meeting place just like in the old times, for work or socialising with friends, and also a sanctuary for relaxation and inner peace. This is very much a family business, with the Milton family running Vadstena Klosterhotel for 40 years now. “Our guests appreciate the beautiful surroundings in Vadstena,” ensures Matilda Milton, CEO. “You can go for a nice walk along Lake Vättern, watch the horizon and the magical sunsets, enjoy a slow stroll in the garden or perhaps visit Vadstena Abbey Church, which is a three-star attraction in the Michelin travel guide.”

The future of spas

Thanks to Saint Bridget, the patron saint of Europe, Vadstena is an important pilgrimage site, and you can, in fact, take a pilgrimage all the way from here to Rome. The spa concept at Vadstena Klosterhotel is based on that pilgrimage legacy and follows a number of key values, such as simplicity and restraint. “In the spa, we work with slowness, silence and simplicity,” says Sofia Lindholm, spa manager. “This is the future, as we see it. Rather than a quick-fix, we want our guests to allow themselves time to recharge, for long-lasting wellbeing.”

The award-winning spa has seen a recent expansion, now with an even better use of the space. The outdoor area features vault-shaped pools and wells, and in the atrium garden, the team grows herbs and fruit trees. It certainly gives the impression of being on a lush terrace in Provence. Indoors, visitors can enjoy the salt-water pool and warm spring, herb sauna and steam room, sun room and dark room, meditation room and, of course, a spa bar and café with lighter meals, snacks and drinks.

The spa strives to maintain a stress-free environment for its guests. As Lindholm puts it: “We don’t want our guests to be overloaded with and feel pressure to follow trends. Going to a spa should be about finding peace within. Therefore, we embrace our peaceful setting.”

Like a walk in the forest

One of the most popular spa rituals is a head-to-toe treatment with elements from aromatherapy, as well as hot baths with essential oils and the spa’s own sauna honey. The idea of being steeped in the monastery heritage is a crucial aspect of the ritual.

The spa also has a fantastic forest room, which really needs to be experienced in person. “The room contains similar particles as those we experience during a forest walk, teasing the receptors in the brain and creating a sense of wellbeing and happiness,” says Lindholm. “Spending some time here truly feels like a walk in the forest.”

This autumn, the spa also offers several relaxing packages, including a retreat with soft yoga and meditation. You can find your inner free-flow with a holistic combination of lymphatic yoga, meditation and deep, spiritual breathwork.

Enjoy the good things in life

The hotel’s restaurant uses local produce and herbs from the garden in its cooking, and wedding guests like to gather for a toast in the picturesque, fragrant setting. The cellar dates back to 1384 and was used by the monks for storing beer, wine and even cheese. Today, the wine cellar holds approximately 5,000 bottles, mostly from the classic wine regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The wine cellar has recently been awarded a White Star on the Star Wine List. “This recognition confirms our passion and commitment to offering outstanding wines from the world’s leading wine regions,” adds Milton. “Our wines are carefully selected by experts, and we are delighted to be part of this prestigious network of wine bars and wine restaurants worldwide.”

In the old days, Vadstena Castle also housed one of the largest breweries of the Middle Ages. Now, the old tradition has re-surfaced with the help of historians and in collaboration with Vreta Kloster Bryggeri and Fors Bryggeri, and guests can try some of the historic brews. So, right here you can relax, unwind and if you so wish, enjoy a beer or a glass of wine, just like the monks did.

Web: www.klosterhotel.se
Facebook: Vadstena Klosterhotel & SPA
Instagram: @klosterhotellet