A world-class location tucked away in Wexford’s woodlands, Monart offers a magical escape from daily life. This destination spa was voted Runner-up Best Spa Retreat Worldwide by Condé Nast Traveller magazine and was selected as among the top 10 destinations in the world by Forbes Magazine.
Monart forbids children and large parties, and operates in harmony with its pristine surrounding environment. Once through the gates, visitors are enveloped in this supernaturally calming micro-climate, known locally as ‘The Still’, where a range of luxurious spa treatments will leave you as glowing and pampered as a fairytale princess.
Set in 100 acres of Wexford woodland (only an hour-and-half away from Dublin), the location is a unique mixture of old and new, with the 18th Century manor house sitting in harmony with the modern hotel. Sweeping staircases, glass corridors and calming wood décor by Stephen and Patricia Carr make Monart a dream destination for romantic getaways, or for solitary travellers looking to experience the healing powers of nature.
Horses and wildlife populate the grounds, overlooked by the spectacular Mount Leinster. Visitors can unwind with a calming stroll around the grounds, or for sports fans there’s Enniscorthy Golf Course, Bunclody Fishing Club and a number of neighbouring adventure centres. At the hotel one can sign up to complimentary classes at the gym studio, or book in for physical therapy with consultant Paul Harrington. There’s also reiki, reflexology, and a Kneippe Pool for aid with tension and sporting injuries.
Seventy luxurious rooms offer a sanctuary from everyday life, each one featuring Italian marble bathrooms and a private balcony with views of the estate. Dining options include the healthy choice spa bistro, or afternoon tea in the rooms of the resplendent Old House. But the ultimate indulgences are saved for Monart’s famous spa, one of Ireland’s foremost sources for rejuvenation.
A traditional Finnish sauna, a scented steam room and salt grotto are only the start of the delights; Monart manages to fill even a one-day stop at the spa with a variety of unforgettable indulgences. Visitors can experience everything from a simple aromatic bath, to the ‘Mud Chamber’ ritual with Canadian Moor Mud or the exotic Tropical Rain Shower. And then there’s the luscious and locally sourced Voya seaweed wraps and massage with organic seaweed oil.
Like the past-meets-present décor of the hotel, Monart’s treatments draw on both ancient ritual and high-tech innovation. The Peppermint Sugar Glow scrub sounds divine, not to mention the delicious Yoghurt Wrap with Mango and Passion Fruit, a creamy, nourishing body-cocoon combined with an Indian head massage.
Prestige brand Pevonia Botanica offers targeted ‘prescriptive facials’, while a hammam allows visitors to stretch out on a heated plinth while experiencing 100% humidity. Therapists are on hand to brush away impurities and induce deep relaxation.
Between the flotation tanks, rock pools and the Swedish sauna, it’s easy to spend a whole day lost in the deepest serenity, wrapped up in the spa’s signature fluffy bathrobe and slippers. Monart inspires the calm contentment of a new-born baby. Staff will accommodate everything from allergies to medical history to claustrophobia, meaning that treatments are tailored so that everyone achieves their own personal bliss.
It is rare to experience such indulgence in a spa, let alone one on Irish shores; switch your mobile off, leave the kids at home, and let Monart spirit you away to a magically calming other world.
Visit www.monart.ie for more information.