In contrast to their reputation for austerity, monastic centres have a tradition of brewing beers and wines and crafting wonderful foods

(TRAVPR.COM) UNITED KINGDOM - July 25th, 2024 - It might seem a contradiction for holidaymakers in search of fine foods and intriguing wines to head for Britain and Continental Europe’s monasteries and abbeys but, in fact, many have a tradition of brewing, confectionary-making and crafts stretching back many centuries. A leading holiday expert says that spiritual destinations and spirits seem to make a perfect mix.

Lily Smith, a leading travel expert from Monasteries.com, says: ‘Whether you are holidaying in the UK or Europe, many monasteries are rightly famed for their handcrafted wines, beers, chocolates, spirits, cheeses and confectionary. It’s a tradition that dates back many centuries, to a time when most abbeys, monasteries and convents had to be entirely self-sufficient.

In the UK, one famous example is Buckfast Abbey, not far from Torquay in Devon. A Benedictine abbey existed in Buckfast in 1018 and a stone abbey was built in the 1100s. It was closed during Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries but the remains were incorporated into a new monastery founded by French Benedictine monks in 1882. Like earlier monasteries, Buckfast Abbey is entirely self-sufficient and one of its most famous products is its remarkable tonic wine.

‘Legend has it that in 1892, the nephew of one of the French monks visited Buckfast Abbey and brought the secret recipe with him. The wine is infused with caffeine and fortified with additional nutrients. It has gained a slightly infamous reputation over the years, as the mixture of wine and caffeine is quite potent, yet it remains a beloved staple for many.

‘To really enter into the atmosphere of a visit to a working Benedictine monastery, it’s possible to stay in a number of religious establishments on your journey south-west. For example, in Salisbury you can stay at Sarum College, run by a Church of England Benedictine community and offering a friendly stay in historic buildings just opposite Salisbury Cathedral, within its 80-acre Close. 

‘A number of other religious establishments across the UK also make their own beers, wines, spirits, cheeses and other products. Travellers to mainland Europe can also stay in many of the most famous monasteries that continue to produce world-famous drinks and foods.

To discover more about the many foods and crafts products made in monasteries and how to stay in them, see Monasteries.com’s new guide at: https://www.monasteries.com/en-GB/travel-inspiration/craft-contemplation-products-made-in-monasteries

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