Ever slept in a Bishop's bedchamber? Travellers and pilgrims seeking a unique experience can now uncover the ancient secrets of convents and monasteries around Europe. We reveal these atmospheric and affordable places that accommodate tourists or those pursuing a pilgrimage or spiritual retreat.
Goodnight and God Bless is the first in a series of guides to alternative tourist accommodation in convents, monasteries, abbeys and Christian hotels in Italy, Austria and the Czech Republic, run by various mainstream Christian religious denominations. As a result of a shortage of religious personnel, coupled with the increasingly high financial overheads in maintaining their ancient buildings, some religious orders have been forced to meet costs by offering tourist accommodation.
This book is about how to find inexpensive, good quality accommodation in places that are unique, safe, comfortable and friendly certainly a refreshing change from the innumerable run-of-the-mill, often tiny, cramped, over-priced hotel rooms so common in Europe.
I have enjoyed staying in many of the accommodations listed in this book and appreciate the helpful, informative feedback I have received from numerous others who likewise have stayed in convents and monasteries across Europe. The priests, monks, nuns and lay staff I have approached in regard to this guide have been helpful and encouraging and in the most cordial manner have either given me access to their establishments or enthusiastically offered photographs and information. However, while monks and nuns do live a life of prayer and devotion they are not always as easily identified as they may have been in the past. That gardener, tractor driver or good-looking young man showing you to your room mightwell be a monk; and the chatty, casually dressed waitress cheerfully serving you breakfast is most likely a nun.
Trish Clark, March 2008
Born in Brisbane, Queensland and educated by Ursuline nuns in Toowoomba, Trish was an enthusiastic bookworm from an early age. Reading stimulated an avid interest in other cultures and led to a love of travel and adventure which continues to this day. Trish didn't put pen to paper until recently. Owner of a successful travel marketing business she opted to forgo formal work to travel and to further her research into convent and monastery accommodation in Europe, with the idea of writing a book. A background of staying in religious guest houses amounted to a lengthy database of information and enough material for at least three volumes. Trish is currently finalising the second volume of Goodnight and God Bless which covers the convents, abbeys and monasteries of France, Ireland and England. The Clarks and their five children call Sydney home, but Queensland their first and favourite address. Friends and members of her family have contributed much to Goodnight and God Bless, and Trish is never short of a companion willing to retreat to a convent or monastery guest house to review and update accommodation, sightsee, have fun and find inspiration.
