He's hired: Belgian lands 'dream job' as hermit for Austrian cliffsid... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/hes-hired-belgia...

He's hired: Belgian lands 'dream job' as

hermit for Austrian cliffside retreat
Stan Vanuytrecht chosen from 50 applicants for post, which comes with no heating,
running water, internet or pay

Stan Vanuytrecht said: When I read about the Saalfelden hermitage, I thought to myself: thats the place for me.
Photograph: Vanuytrecht/AFP/Getty Images

Kate Connolly in Berlin

Wednesday 19 April 2017 12.39BST

A Belgian man has won a competition to live as a hermit in a cliside cell above an
Austrian town.

Stan Vanuytrecht, 58, a former artillery ocer who drives an East German Trabant, beat
49 other candidates to secure the position as one of Europes last hermits.

Vanuytrecht is due to move into the 350-year-old hermitage, built into a cli above the
town of Saalfelden near Salzburg in western Austria, this month.

I had thought I had no chance, Vanuytrecht, who comes from near Brussels, told the
Austria Press Agency. When I read about the Saalfelden hermitage, I thought to myself:
thats the place for me. He said he had long dreamed of becoming a hermit but the

1 of 3 19/04/2017, 19:58
He's hired: Belgian lands 'dream job' as hermit for Austrian cliffsid... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/hes-hired-belgia...

opportunity had not arisen.

The position is not for everyone: it is unpaid, there is no heating, running water or
internet and, of course, there is a considerable degree of isolation. But the views are
spectacular and the air very clean.

The Saalfelden hermitage has been occupied every year since its foundation. But when
the previous hermit Thomas Flieglmller, a former priest and psychotherapist
announced he was leaving to concentrate on a writing career in Vienna, the local priest
Alois Moser started advertising for successors, who had to submit their applications by
post.

Saalfelden is one of central Europes last hermitages.

Photograph: Handout/AFP/Getty Images

The job description was for someone with a connection to Christian belief and the
ability to be at peace with themselves at 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) above sea level.

Vanuytrecht said he thought his previous experience working with homeless people,
alcoholics, drug addicts, prisoners and psychiatric patients would stand him in good
stead. His divorce and the poverty he experienced as a result was also good preparation,
he added.

The trained surveying technician, who is also a Catholic deacon, will not be completely
alone. He has been told to expect a number of visitors who come by to pray, chat and
enjoy the view. He said he liked the idea of combining the peace in the mornings and
evenings with the intensive dialogue and pastoral care of his visitors during the day.

Flieglmller, who occupied the post for a single season from April to November, said he
had enjoyed the experience, but was often asked why he did not sport a cowl or a beard.

Vanuytrecht has both a white beard and a pipe.

Saalfeldens mayor, Erich Rohrmoser, said Vanuytrecht had stood out from the other
candidates. We decided on Stan Vanuytrecht because we liked his personality. He
exudes calm and gives the impression of being centred. And he told us he could imagine
spending a considerable length of time living in Saalfelden.

Flieglmllers predecessor was a Benedictine monk who stayed for 12 years.

The townsfolk of Saalfelden will have their rst encounter with their new resident
hermit, who speaks uent German, at their annual St George celebrations on 30 April.

2 of 3 19/04/2017, 19:58
He's hired: Belgian lands 'dream job' as hermit for Austrian cliffsid... https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/19/hes-hired-belgia...

Since youre here

weve got a small favour to ask. More people are reading the Guardian than ever, but
far fewer are paying for it. Advertising revenues across the media are falling fast. And
unlike many news organisations, we havent put up a paywall we want to keep our
journalism as open as we can. So you can see why we need to ask for your help. The
Guardians independent, investigative journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard
work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters because it
might well be your perspective, too.

If everyone who reads our reporting, who likes it, helps to support it, our future would
be much more secure.

Become a supporter Make a contribution

Topics
Austria
Europe/Belgium/news

3 of 3 19/04/2017, 19:58