Le Monastère des Augustines

This was a wonderful property. Beautiful, a mix of the historic monastery and lovely new architecture, filled with art and artifacts from the old working monastery. It is a very peaceful place to stay but it is also only a block from rue St Jean so it is very convenient to the old town. The breakfast is excellent, all vegetarian dishes with vegan choices as well. ||This is not a conventional hotel; no tvs in the rooms, no ice machines at the end of the hall, silence is observed at breakfast. ||The rooms called authentic rooms share bathrooms, there is only a sink in those rooms. The shared bathrooms are numerous, always clean and I never had a problem finding an unused one.||The entire hotel was very clean, the bed linens were luxurious, the room decor was austere but homey. There is an example of the original nuns' cell for viewing on the third floor. The authentic rooms are nuns' cells so the size is small. My room had a window seat, an armoire with shelves and hooks, a sink, a small dresser, a desk, a floor lamp,and a single bed. ||The guest has an opportunity to do spa treatments, walks and relaxation exercises at an additional cost, the museum is free.||The property has won many sustainability awards, I was most impressed with how their geothermal power kept the room warm despite farenheit degree temperatures near zero during my stay. There is a thermostat in the room but I never used it.||I used the hotel to relax and recharge, it did that for me.||

Peace in the winter. This place is quiet and clean and full of history and calm. We lived our room and bed and bath. The museum was very interesting and informative about the history of Quebec and these nuns. Loved the food. We had dinner and breakfast there and felt it was just off the beaten path of the touristy shops and hullabaloo of this lovely city. The hotel was full of perfect little nooks for guests like a “Christmas living room” with tea, art supplies, sofas and relaxing books. One of our favourite places ever. There is limited parking.

I absolutely loved my 4-night stay at Monastere de Augustines and left there feeling calm and refreshed! The history of the building and the amazing artifacts on display —both in the museum as well as throughout the hotel— just blew my mind. I really enjoyed attending the sisters’ morning prayers (which were largely sung). My room was a traditional one and the lodging perfect for me as I didn’t mind the lack of a lobby bar or pool and not having a tv or mini fridge in my room. Comfortable bed and quiet. The multiple shared baths, which accommodate only one shower-taker at a time, were extremely clean and I never encountered a wait to take a shower. That said, it was nice to also have sink in my room. As a note: I (US traveler) did not need a plug adapter and there were hairdryers available in the shared bathrooms. I loved the location—a very quick walk to lots of restaurants, bars, shops and tourist attractions. If you can, treat yourself to a massage during your visit. Sylvie gave me an aromatherapy massage and it was fantastic! The monastere is simple, peaceful and lovely. Would definitely return!

Monastère des Augustines provides a wonderfully peaceful stay. The location comes with a rich history that guests are welcome to explore with guided tours and museums. The silent breakfast offers a moment of quiet reflection in contrast to the other bustling hotels around Quebec City. This place is a sanctuary unlike any other. If you value mindfulness, tranquility and relaxation you will not be disappointed

My partner and I are both very mindful about where we stay. This vacation we learned so much about the history of the city and how the monastery helped shape Quebec and the communities. The room is simple, clean and comfortable to stay without any distraction which is perfect for the people who try to get a restful and fully recharged vacation. The service is awesome, staff are kind and helpful. Everyone is genuine and friendly. It is perfectly located to many tourist sites, within 15 min walking distance. I highly recommend this place.

Great choice for a hotel! Since it’s joined with an active monastery, it’s definitely different from a regular hotel. Most of the doors were shorter than me (6 foot). Some rooms’ bathrooms are communal, which can sometimes be a hassle. The quiet hours are taken very seriously. However, the location is perfect; you can take the front entrance to the lower town, and the back entrance to the upper town, but it’s an extremely quiet area. The breakfast was the best hotel breakfast I’ve ever had!

An amazing place within minutes walking distance from touristic areas. Very convenient. Extremely clean, quiet place, friendly staff, great healthy food options available. Will definitely go back and highly recommend it. Remember the rooms are in their original space so they maybe very small. I 100% enjoyed my stay. ❤️

A quiet sanctuary overlooking the old city. From the moment we checked in, to the moment we checked out, I appreciated everything about this place. I appreciated the cleanliness and the view from our room. I appreciated the opportunity to be immersed in history (the religion part doesn't interest me, just the history and the kind deeds they do). I appreciated the forced opportunities to try and quiet my mind as there aren't any TVs, they request calmness in the common areas, and the breakfast which was delicious and included required complete silence. I appreciated the friendly staff. If you have the chance to stay here, do it. There's a lot to explore and it's a wonderful experience even if it did get a bit windy on top of that hill during Halloween weekend. Quite the contrast of spots after seeing Iron Maiden that same night.

Peaceful, tranquil respite from the bustle of a cruise ship! The first encounter was a bit of an adjustment - no noisy lobby with the clacking of wheeled luggage across the floor or tourists crowding the front desk for recommendations. Off the beaten path of tourist-crowded restaurants, souvenir shops, and groups of students after school, this quiet respite is actually a monastery! There's a spa, restaurant, and to get to the elevators/stairs to your room, you pass through their museum. You have a couple of choices when booking - a contemporary room (upgraded, modern, minimalist), or a traditional one. Heads up (literally!) - the contemporary rooms are on the upper floor, and have a slanted ceiling which may be awkward for some. The restaurant is wonderful - breakfast is European-style. It comes with the room, and there is so much variety to choose from. Don't expect it to be like some hotel chains in the U.S. with noisy waffle makers, machines that dispense juice, or huge toasters that rotate your bread. Loved staying here - central to everything, including an 8-minute walk to the train station!

So this is my first night of 7. The contemporary rooms are more hotel like. But note: no TV or phone. The website said bring hairdryer, which I did, a big use of space for a carryon only traveler, but I did as stated, only to find a hairdryer in the room. Bed is a twin, but very comfortable, duvet, mattress cover, nice linens. Don't even think about checking in before 4 pm. I tried at noon, 3 pm and finally at 410 pm my room was ready. They did keep my luggage though as I waited. WiFi works well. I travel and work from the computer so WiFi is a must. I purchased the breakfast included meal plan. Will let you know how that is.

I wish I could transport this place to somewhere closer than Quebec!! It is tranquil. Peaceful. Quiet. Pure nourishment. A functioning monastery, this hotel opened in recent years. It houses a spa, a restaurant, and a museum. Technology is limited, chatter is quieted, and comfort is necessary. There are two floors of accommodations above the museum. One, has more traditional rooms of the old monastery. Twin bed, few things in the room. And shared bathrooms. I stopped into use the bathroom on the way to my room, and it was quite nice and private. However, still shared. The top floor are the premium rooms, more typical of a hotel. Oh wow, these rooms are magnificent. The bed had top of the line linens, and was the most comfortable thing I've ever slept on. The window out had a beautiful view. The lines and architecture of the room was simple, but elegant. The bathroom, had a deep tub. This was essential for this tall gal after each day of climbing the hills of QC. I slept so incredibly well. Read a ton. And barely talked. It was a delight for someone that is constantly "on". It was nice to be "off". And breakfast...was a breakfast bar each morning that I enjoyed.

I booked a stay at Hôtellerie d'Expérience au Monastère des Augustines based on the information I found on their website that promised a relaxing experience. While a mindful stay was my primary reason for booking a room here, the most appealing feature of the monastery is its close proximity to the sightseeing in Quebec City. In Quebec City, I had a wonderful time. As a single traveler, I attended many cultural exhibits, including part of the QC film festival, a free walking tour of the city's historic sites, and a visit to the wonderful Morrin Centre. I feasted on creme brulee at Le Chateau Frontenac, poutine at a bar on Rue Saint Jean, and a cold beer at Cafe du Monde on the waterfront. The most disappointing part of my trip was the service at Hôtellerie d'Expérience au Monastère des Augustines. I had no problem with the sparse accommodations and shared bathrooms of the authentic cloisters. I also enjoyed the museum that I leisurely explored for free. I took many photographs and learned much about the Augustinian Sisters who founded Le Monastère. My disappointment came when I realized that the program of daily activities were not as they were represented on the website at all. Nearly every activity cost extra to participate in. I would not have minded spending extra, but I got the feeling that none of the other guests participated in such activities. For activities where there was no charge, the activity itself was pitiful when compared to the description of the activity in the glossy marketing materials. For example: The brochure: The Creation Series 10:00 - 11:00 am Mandalas, scrapbooking and more The reality: a vacant room where one could work on a large puzzle, or add to a scarf that someone had begun to weave on a loom The brochure: Inspiration Series 8:00-9:00 pm Films, roundtables, conferences The reality: a room with a DVD collection where I could sit and watch videos alone I had looked forward to getting a massage, but no information about booking one was presented to me. In fact, no one from Hôtellerie d'Expérience au Monastère des Augustines ever asked if I needed anything, or if I was enjoying my stay, or if I wanted to participate in any of the activities- paid or otherwise. For a place that seeks to "promote rest, renewal, and self-discovery," I found the atmosphere to be unnecessarily harsh and the staff was brutally distant. This could not have been more evident than in the second morning I spent eating the "silent breakfast." I rose early and showered so I could get a seat at the window in Le Restaurant. I arrived there at 7:15 and took a seat by the windows. On my first morning, I had sat at a table for six visitors and I ate my breakfast alone, while other couples chit chatted quietly, despite the restriction on speaking. As a single traveler, I had hoped that a view of nature out the window would be a more pleasant way to start the day. No sooner had I sat down and unfolded my napkin did a staff member approach me to ask that I move from my seat. She explained that Le Monasterie was booked solid and they needed the larger tables for the many guests who would soon descend upon the breakfast area. I reluctantly moved to the same table where I had eaten breakfast the previous day. I spent nearly a half hour eating my breakfast- which was the same exact food, without variety, that had been presented the previous day. During the half hour, only three other guests visited Le Restaurant for breakfast, leaving dozens of tables, including all those by the windows, empty. I am not a person who gets riled up about many things. I live and let live. I go with the flow. But I found this request for me to move from my seat to be outrageously inappropriate. I had hoped to "savour a unique experience in a relaxed atmosphere," but what I found was anything but tranquil. At that point, I decided to bring my concerns to the front desk person when I checked out. I quickly packed, eager to leave the horrible breakfast experience at Le Monasterie, in what was otherwise a wonderful vacation, as quickly as possible. When I arrived at the front desk to check out, the clerk was distant, unconcerned with asking me if I enjoyed my stay... unconcerned with me- overall. I decided to say nothing. It can be uncomfortable for most people to travel alone. My experience at Le Monasterie made it more uncomfortable. I should have said something at the front desk, but at that point I just wanted to get out of there. Perhaps my stay at Le Monasterie truly has been a spiritual journey. I learned that a wonderful visit to Quebec City shouldn't be spoiled by flying into a rage at the front desk clerk. Rage... probably not the emotion the Augustinian Sisters were going for.