If you thought qualifications for being a hermit were a tendency toward solitude and dislike of civilization, think again. A small Swiss town is on the hunt for an outgoing hermit to live in and show visitors around a popular cave. It’s a time-honored position that’s nearly 600 years old.
About a mile from the community of Solothurn, the Verena Gorge Hermitage is known to have existed since 1613. Records of a hermit living in the area date back to 1442.
Now, after the most recent hermit decided to step down due to health problems, the nearby town in seeking a replacement. An ad posted recently in a Swiss paper called Reformed Press caught the eye of observant readers: