Scan Magazine | Special Theme | Sweden’s Top Spa and Wellness Destinations
Unwind in a charming old monastery During the first half of the 14th century, it 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. Vadstena Klosterhotel has certainly had many guises over its lifetime, but fourth generation restaurateur Matilda Milton suggests that both King Magnus Eriksson and the very first nuns would feel right at home if they were to return. This is a place to switch off and relax – a place to find yourself. By Linnea Dunne | Photos: Vadstena Klosterhotel
“The beds are more comfortable now than they were back then – we are a fourstar hotel, after all – but there’s a sense of peace here that we’ve got for free,” says Milton. “The spa completes the sense of calm in your soul.” The spa only opened two years ago but has already won two titles from the annual Spa Awards: Best Spa Kitchen and Best Newcomer. The customers are equally impressed. “I’m 62 | Issue 104 | September 2017
starting to recognise quite a few of them now. Some return every few months.”
‘Built from the heart’ Thanks to Saint Bridget, the patron saint of Europe, Vadstena is an important pilgrimage site and you can take a pilgrimage all the way from here to Rome. Milton talks about the development of the new spa as an urge to emphasise the inner
journey and the area’s already restful atmosphere. “We’re not spa geeks, and we didn’t have any architects involved. It’s all built from the heart,” she says. “We’ve simply tried to create the ultimate environment to unwind. There are separated areas so that you can stroll around without feeling like you’re being watched all the time. You can grab a piece of fruit or a glass of Champagne; we want guests to feel at home, like you’re always welcome, never in the way.” While the lack of what Milton refers to as “flashy design” was partly a result of a limited budget, it was also a conscious decision to create a spa in tune with its surroundings and the monastery environment. The colours are soft and muted, and there are religious icons on the