Prayer and work aren't two things I'd associate with going on holiday, but at St Georgenberg-Fiecht Monastery, my home for the next few days, these are words I will hear uttered on several occasions.

I'm on a monastery escape in Austria where, in the absence of television, news and internet, I'm hoping to completely switch off.

Run by Benedictine monks, the monastery is a 40-minute drive from Innsbruck Airport.

I admit, I'm slightly nervous about spending a stint in a religious establishment, but any fears soon disappear when I'm greeted by Pater Arno, wearing flowing black robes and a boyish grin.

The 74-year-old, who has been with the order since he was 20, takes my hand and invites me inside.

The monastery is large, imposing and reminds me of a museum as I gaze at the religious artefacts and paintings adorning the walls. The corridors are long and flanked by windows that look out to the cloisters and a bronze statue of St Benedictine.

The building was once a boarding school for 120 teenage boys, but now the rooms are empty and the air is hushed and quiet. There are 13 monks in residence, including Pater Arno and the Abbot, although some of the monks are away on missionary trips when I visit.

The guest rooms are named after saints, and my humble abode for three days is Room 107 - Saint Irmgard of Suchteln, named after a saint who helped the poor and lived a simple life in solitude.

Basic and functional, the room includes two single beds, a desk with lots of religious reading and an en-suite toilet/shower.

The monastery is the smaller sister to the original St Georgenberg, built in 1138, where the monks lived for more than 550 years until a series of fires forced them down from the mountains to St Georgenberg-Fiecht. The original clifftop monastery, now restored, is also a hotel and restaurant.

Pater Arno, surprisingly sprightly for his years, guides us there, in silence, as we take part in some meditative walking. The 90-minute uphill hike follows a path flanked by the Stations of the Cross and we enjoy some spectacular views. When we reach the medieval monastery, we're presented with a hearty bowl of venison stew and a cold beer.

Although simple, the rooms here are charming, and there's even a "honeymoon suite" which looks down to the valley below.

Although prayers and meditation are offered as part of a stay at the monastery, they are not compulsory. Guests can also take part in dream therapy, spiritual dance or counselling sessions.

For some people, though, just switching off, being quiet and taking time to appreciate nature is all the spiritual guidance they need.

Beyond the monastery, there are also trails to explore. I see many pilgrims on the Jacob's Trail, which runs from Salzberg.

Train enthusiasts will love the Achenseebahn steam cog railway which trundles high up the mountain to the Achensee, the largest mountain lake in the Tyrol. Here, you can take a boat ride across the still green waters, or walk all the way around the lake and back to Jenbach.

But despite the wealth of attractions on offer, I'm happy to return to simple, routine monastery life. I've no idea what's going on in the news and I haven't sent a tweet in days. Yet, surprisingly, I feel more connected than I have done in years.

Avril Cadden was a guest of Inghams (www.inghams.co.uk; 01483 791 114) which offers four nights at the St Georgenberg-Fiecht Monastery from £588 per person (half board), including return flights from Edinburgh to Innsbruck and resort transfers. www.visittirol. co.uk and www.innsbruck.info