Monks

An illuminated manuscript comprising the life's work of a lone monk, inexplicably decorated with a portrait of Satan himself.

The highest monastery in the world operates a tiny guesthouse with doors open to all.

This Belgian palace was long the domain of priests and aristocrats but is now being turned into an art commune.

This ancient mountain monastery welcomes all manner of faith in an effort to keep Christians in Syria.

The world's only managed flock of mute swans was established as a factory for monk meat but is now an adorable sanctuary.

Twelve natural mummies are displayed in the crypt of this former monastery school.

This hilltop warren of monastic dwellings is the result of centuries worth of Mongol attacks.

A magical and peaceful ruined Cistercian abbey in what is now southern Belgium.

The hermits of Karoulia protect their asocial lifestyles by living on the vertical face of a treacherous precipice.

Located within one of Israel's most picturesque monasteries is also the country's first meteorological research station.

Buddhist university that allows English-language speakers the opportunity to study with monks in Thailand.

An autonomous republic of Orthodox monks.

Mummified monks and the accidentally interred, in a 17th-century crypt.