Hermit in the Alps

An Austrian town might have the solution to our saturated and interconnected lives

For months Gottfried Scholenateuer, the bell ringing hermit of Saalfelden, in the mountains of Austria never sees another human being. Hans Enzwieser / Getty Images

We live in uncertain times. With a seemingly endless stream of notifications that light up our smartphones throughout the day, life can too often feel complex and even suffocating. So it is only natural that many of us feel the need to get away and clear our minds from time to time. Sure, there are digital detoxes and no shortage of advice about how to put down our smartphones. But what if you need something more?

The Austrian town of Saalfelden, nestled in the foothills of the Alps, might have an unusual analogue solution to this modern problem. The town is looking for someone to live in a hermitage high in an Alpine rock face. The hermitage is more than 350 years old and has no running water or heat (and forget about television or a Wi-Fi connection). The caretaker position is unpaid but does come with the invaluable benefit of tranquillity in the heart of Europe. For those able to afford the ultimate digital detox, the applications deadline is March 15.