The past twelve months captured in photographs
The Colombian priest became a Maronite monk and moved to the Our Lady of Hawka Monastery, in the Qadisha Valley, in North Lebanon. Escobar is said to be one of the last hermits left in Lebanon.
For 30 years, Smith lived in a remote shepherd's bothy at Strathchailleach in Sutherland, near Cape Wrath in the Scottish Highlands.
Also known as Fred, this homeless man from Poland lived for over 40 years in a tent on the Wolverhampton Ring Road in the West Midlands, England. Stawinoga passed away in 2007.
Because of her visions of Jesus, people would seek her for spiritual guidance. But despite receiving visitors in her cell, Julian still lived a pretty reclusive life.
The former Black Watch soldier from Dumbarton, Scotland, used to walk 26 miles (41.8 km) to the nearest town when he needed to buy anything.
Sources: (Ranker) (Listverse) (Express & Star) (Amusing Planet)
Richard Proenneke moved into the cabin after serving in the Navy during World War II. A book went on to be published based on his journals.
After his mom died, "Mad Lucas" barricaded himself in his mansion near Redcoats Green in Hertfordshire, England. Lucas became known as the "Hermit of Redcoats." He died in 1874.
Julian of Norwich was an anchoress from the Middle Ages. An anchorite or anchoress is someone who withdraws from secular society for for religious purposes. It is believed that she isolated herself to escape from the Plague. Julian of Norwich famously authored the first book ever written by a woman in English.
The American naturalist lived alone in this remote cabin in Twin Lakes, Alaska, for 30 years.
Despina Achladioti was a a Greek patriot born in 1890. She became known as the "Lady of Ro," after moving to a desert islet with the same name (pictured).
People would often visit his sculpture garden.
The German hermit/artist died shortly after a massive oil spill struck his stone garden. He was 66.
Also known as "France's Robinson Crusoe," Villatte claimed to not have seen a doctor for over 40 years. He used to live in a small town, not far from Pillac, France. Villatte passed away around August 5, 1965 (his body was only found days later).
Broke, he then moved to a cave near the town of Griffith, which he called Hismia Sacra Collina (“My Sacred Hill”). There he built a number of things, including a small chapel. Ricetti, or "The Hermit of Griffith" as he became known as, lived in the cave for around 23 years. Then World War II broke out and he was taken to a prisoner-of-war camp by the Australian government for suspicions of espionage. He died in Italy in 1952.
In the early 1960s, a newspaper editor from England bought Moyenne Island. In 1973, he moved to the small island off the coast of Seychelles, where he planted thousands of trees and cared for giant tortoises. He did such a great job that the island was declared a national park in 2008.
An apprentice stonemason from Italy moved to Australia in 1914 to escape the war. Story has it that he lost all his money in a brothel shortly afterwards.
A German man named Manfred Gnädinger moved to Camelle, Spain, in 1962, where he became famous for his sculpture garden made of stones and other materials. Gnädinger was known to wear just a small loin cloth, and nothing else.
Known as stylites, or pillar hermits, these men used to live on top of pillars, where they would pray and fast. Simeon Stylites is a saint venerated by the Roman Catholic Church, as well as by both the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox Churches.
Maxime Qavtaradze is a Georgian monk who lives in a small cottage atop of the Katskhi pillar in the country of Georgia.
He moved to the tall limestone monolith in 1993, and only comes down from it a couple of times a week or so. This takes him about 20 minutes each time.
Achladioti moved to the islet close to Kastelorizo with her husband and mother before World War II. But they eventually died and she lived there alone for the rest of her life. Every day, Despina Achladioti would raise the Greek flag, making her a symbol of Greek patriotism.
Pietro del Morrone was living as a hermit when he was forced to step into the papacy in 1292.
But Maxime Qavtaradze is not the only man to have lived atop a pillar. Syrian Christian ascetic Simeon Stylites lived on top of one for 37 years.
'Revelations of Divine Love' was the name of the book. It was first published in 1670 and it detailed the visions Julian had of Jesus, and all the revelations that came with them.
It is worth noting that the Dodecanese islands, of which Ro is part, were controlled by Italy at the time, during the war, and were controlled by Greece.
Before then, he used to live in a cave and practice mortification of the flesh. He was the founder of the Roman Catholic monastic order the Celestines.
Many historical figures have lived reclusive lives. In fact, some would isolate themselves for long periods of time, either to work or simply to withdraw from the world and recharge. Though this is not quite what this gallery is about. Here, we look back at individuals who chose to live like hermits, who isolated themselves from society and embraced solitude.
Intrigued? Then browse through and learn some fascinating facts about the lives of some of history's most famous hermits.
The man who lives atop a pillar, and other hermits across history
From solitary monks to reclusive artists
LIFESTYLE Solitude
Many historical figures have lived reclusive lives. In fact, some would isolate themselves for long periods of time, either to work or simply to withdraw from the world and recharge. Though this is not quite what this gallery is about. Here, we look back at individuals who chose to live like hermits, who isolated themselves from society and embraced solitude.
Intrigued? Then browse through and learn some fascinating facts about the lives of some of history's most famous hermits.