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If you’ve ever wanted to experience Europe’s soulful hospitality without crossing an ocean, step inside Québec City’s Old Town. Nestled within the ramparts and centuries-old walls, Le Monastère des Augustines offers more than just a place to stay—it’s a space for restoration, holistic health, and cultural immersion.
A Legacy of Healing, Reimagined
The present-day Monastère des Augustines occupies the beautifully preserved wings of the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec monastery, whose architecture dates back to the late 17th century, surviving fires and reconstructions throughout history.
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The buildings, chapel, and surrounding grounds are protected as historic monuments, embracing a heritage that blends European traditions with the resilience and spirit of Québec City. Today, the Monastère des Augustines hotel honours that enduring mission by offering guests a sanctuary of wellness, heritage, and holistic care, inviting everyone to experience the healing philosophy cultivated by the Augustinian sisters across generations.
“For more than three centuries, the Augustinian community managed Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, the first permanent hospital in New France, established in 1644 by the nuns who came to care for both the French settlers and Indigenous peoples. The twelve hospitals founded by the Augustinian Sisters laid the foundations of Québec’s modern healthcare system. These hospitals eventually integrated into Québec’s public health network in the 1960s, though some monasteries retain their original functions.”
Source: Ville de Québec (Québec City), The Augustinian Nuns and the Hôtel-Dieu de Québec, ville.quebec.qc.ca
Every detail here honours that tradition. Their Wellness Experience package blends accommodation in historic authentic or contemporary rooms, wholesome meals (including silent breakfasts), a comprehensive 90-minute personalized health session, a 60-minute massage, and daily movement, yoga, and meditative walking—all set in an atmosphere of silence, beauty, and harmony.
Mindfulness Meets Heritage
One of the most unique features of this boutique hotel is its museum and archives. The Augustinian Sisters kept careful records of their medical care and remedies, though formal scientific studies as we understand them today didn’t exist in the 17th century. Caring for patients was integral to their lives, a vocation reflected in the onsite museum.
Touring this museum is an integral part of the peaceful, contemplative atmosphere inspired throughout the hotel, inviting guests to connect deeply with the legacy of care and healing nurtured here.
The museum holds over 40,000 artifacts from the 12 monastery-hospitals they founded, including medical instruments, handwritten records, and personal items. Interviews with the sisters offer intimate insight into their compassionate work.
The Spiritual Spa
My visit centred around wellness—and the highlight was a massage that felt “spiritual.” Le Monastère’s Signature massage is rooted in the rituals of the sisters: a gentle foot bathing, warm essential oils, and deeply intuitive care that transcends technique.
The spa menu includes a dozen massage types (aromatic, Thai, lymphatic drainage, and head etc.), facials, and neurobed sessions that blend vibration and sound for profound relaxation. Health consultations are also available, embracing mindfulness and food as holistic medicine.
Wellness at Le Monastère goes beyond a traditional ‘spa’. Daily yoga, tai chi, meditation, Qigong, and contemplative walks are thoughtfully designed for all ages and abilities, focusing on breath, gentle movement, and introspection—no high-intensity workouts here.
A Personal Reflection on the Signature Massage
It had been a very busy few days—and they were only going to get busier. The idea of slowing down, even just in the morning, was incredibly appealing. I had been struggling with back issues and sciatica pain, so I was especially looking forward to the Signature Massage.
The experience begins when the massage therapist comes to your room to guide you to the spa area. You are provided slippers and a plush robe, and tucked away at the end of a quiet hall, you are invited to leave all your worries behind and simply focus on the present moment.
The massage itself starts with a foot bathing ritual, followed by the application of warm essential oils. As a Catholic, the foot bath felt almost religious in its significance—but there’s also something truly luxurious about having your feet cared for after all the walking travellers do.
With monastic music composed by Hildegarde in the 12th century playing gently in the background, the massage therapist worked gently and intuitively, and the full-body massage released much of the tension that lingers when you just don’t feel like yourself.
She checked to ensure I was relaxed and enjoying the massage. It was a deeply restorative experience—both physical and spiritual – it may be hard to explain but the whole setting lends itself to a level of peace and reflection.
I cannot recommend this treatment enough and truly appreciate the care and thoughtful attention the massage therapist provided throughout.
— Margarita Ibbott
Spaces for Stillness
Le Monastère des Augustines Hotel features tranquil gardens, a contemplative chapel, wide corridors filled with historic artifacts, and serene common areas like the Augustinian choir. Guest rooms—both authentic (evoking monastic simplicity) and contemporary—are designed for rest, reflection, and privacy. No TVs or phones disturb the peace, and natural light fills the spaces. Healthy cuisine spotlights local ingredients and mindful preparation, supporting the journey toward inner and outer well-being.
Each morning this beautiful luxury hotel, begins with a silent breakfast, encouraging mindfulness and a calm start to the day—a unique ritual that honours the hotel’s contemplative heritage. Le Vivoir breakfast itself features a thoughtful selection of nourishing, locally sourced produce and products, including fresh baked goods, seasonal fruits, organic cereals, and hot beverages. The emphasis is on simple yet wholesome fare that supports wellness and reflection.
A place for healing and respite
Le Monastère des Augustines also offers specially tailored retreats and respite packages for healthcare professionals and caregivers, recognizing the unique stresses of their important work. Special rates are available for caregivers seeking rejuvenation, though these arrangements must be made directly with the Monastère. After my most recent visit, it’s clear why this serene and supportive environment is ideal for those in need of rest and renewal.
Why Le Monastère Is Different
More than a hotel, Le Monastère des Augustines is a heritage haven of culture and wellness—rooted in a legacy of care and fully dedicated to holistic health. Whether you come for restoration, spiritual retreat, or simply to unplug and reconnect, it’s a sanctuary in the heart of vibrant Old Québec.
I left lighter, restored, and inspired—a testament to the healing that happens when history and well-being intertwine. This unique and historically significant accommodation offers an enriching cultural and spiritual journey in French Canada.
Disclosure: I requested an invitation to experience Le Monastère des Augustines firsthand as part of the TBEX Conference. I had previously taken yoga classes and enjoyed a meal at Le Vivoir as part of two different press trips. All the opinions and images for this article are my own.
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