Retreat center near Madison, Wisconsin
“The word retreat never seemed to fit into my life. As someone who isn’t religious, doesn’t do yoga and struggles to disconnect and slow down, the concept of just being somewhere solo never really crossed my mind. It took spending a night at Holy Wisdom Monastery, a Benedictine abbey near Madison, Wis., to realize that I had been missing out.”
–Kate Silver, The Washington Post
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We welcome all people to come for a personal retreat and experience the quiet spaciousness of Holy Wisdom Monastery. Come for a day, an overnight, a weekend or longer. You choose what you do while you are here—walk the nature trails, sleep, browse in the library, meditate, join in community prayers and meals, bring a project you want to work on or find a spot near the glacial lake and write in your journal.
Retreats make thoughtful gifts, too. Contact us for more information about gift certificates for you or a loved one.
Retreat lodging
We offer overnight lodging in the retreat and guest house or in the two hermitages located in a peaceful wooded area. The simple rooms in the retreat & guest house feature bed, bathroom, desk and wardrobe.
For those seeking a more solitary experience, private hermitages can be reserved for one night or up to three months, if available. The hermitages include a kitchenette, living room, bedroom, bathroom and an outdoor deck overlooking a wooded landscape.
View retreat & guest house photos | View hermitage photos | View monastery building photos
Retreat & Guest House bedroom rates for personal retreats
| Room use | Arrival/departure times | 2023 rates |
|---|---|---|
| Day use | Tuesday-Thursday only 8:00 am-6:00 pm | $63 |
| Overnight | Weekdays & weekends 2:00 pm or after (day of arrival) / Noon or before (day of departure) | $82/weekend night single $99/weekend night double $63/weekday night single $73 weekday night double Weekend=Fri, Sat, Sun nights Additional guests in room $5/each |
Hermitage rates
| Number of consecutive nights of stay | Arrival/departure times | 2024 cost/night |
|---|---|---|
| All hermitage stays require a 2 night minimum stay. | Weekdays & weekends 3:00 pm or after (day of arrival) / 11:00 am or before (day of departure) | $118/weekend night $110/weekday night |
| 7+ nights | Weekdays & weekends 3:00 pm or after (day of arrival) / 11:00 am or before (day of departure) | 10% discount off above rates after 6 nights |
Meals
Lunch and dinner are available for guests (meals not open to the general public), Tuesday-Saturday, in the monastery building. A light continental, self-serve breakfast is available each morning in the retreat and guest house for overnight guests. Shared meals allow you to engage in conversation with members of the community and guests from around the world. We offer buffet-style meals prepared by our chef from fresh, healthy, locally grown ingredients. The buffet line is open for 30 minutes at lunch and for dinner, please be prompt. Meals must be reserved 24 hours in advance.
Meal rates
| Meal type | Days available | Meal time | Serving location | 2024 Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental breakfast | Sunday-Saturday | Available until 11:00 am | Retreat & guest room 108 | No charge with overnight room |
| Lunch | Sunday-Saturday | 12:00-12:30 pm | Monastery community or guest dining room | $16.60/person $11/child age 12 and under |
| Dinner | Sunday-Saturday | 5:15-5:45 pm | Monastery community or guest dining room | $20.00/person $13/child age 12 and under |
Spiritual guidance
Individuals on personal retreats may want to meet with a spiritual guide while at Holy Wisdom Monastery. The spiritual guide facilitates your reflection on your life experience in relation to God, yourself, and others. There is a suggested donation of $50 for a one hour spiritual guidance session. Schedule your spiritual guidance session when you schedule your personal retreat. LEARN MORE
Schedule your personal retreat
Check room availability and start the process to reserve space at Holy Wisdom Monastery for your personal retreat or spiritual guidance session.
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Fill out the Availability Inquiry to schedule your personal retreat or spiritual guidance session. We will check availability and get in touch with you.
Guest services staff hours are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am-4:00 pm CST. Forms submitted over the weekend won’t be viewed until Monday. If you wish to visit within the next 48 hours, please call us at 608-836-1631, x100.
Check availability in real time and reserve your personal retreat by clicking on the Personal Retreat Availability button below.
Personal Retreat AvailabilityRead about what to do
on a personal retreatAs featured in The Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Minneapolis Star Tribune
For travelers, monastery stays offer peace and quiet, regardless of faithWatch a video blog about the
gift of retreat in a hermitageLearn more about our facilitiesDownload our
personal retreat brochure