The idea of hermits is not a Christian idea, its origins go back to pre-Christian times. Nevertheless, the hermitage on the Palfen in Saalfelden was founded on purely Christian beliefs.
From around 1560, an image of Saint George was venerated in a rock cave above Lichtenberg Castle. This prompted a certain Thomas Pichler, a mountain farmer's son from Embach who belonged to the Order of Saint Francis, to obtain permission from the archbishop's consortium in Salzburg in 1664 to settle as a hermit above Lichtenberg Castle. With the help of his fellow believers, he built a small hermitage on the Palfen and converted the cave with the image of Saint George into a chapel. Brother Thomas was a hermit on the Palfen for 35 years. He was followed by other hermits, some of whom undertook some renovations and extensions.
Today, the hermitage is no longer exclusively a Christian place of worship, but is also a popular destination for locals and tourists. Today's hermits serve drinks in the summer months to supplement their modest finances. A mass is held at Palfen on April 23 of each year, St. George's Day.
The hermitage was built in the 17th century above Lichtenberg Castle. The 34th hermit has been Matthias Gschwandtner from Bad Ischl since June 2020,[2] as the successor to the Belgian Stan Vanuytrecht.[3] The current hermit was chosen through a competition.
The word "Palfen" originally meant an overhanging rock, a rocky peak or a cave.