hermitage

Hermitage refers to a dwelling or place of seclusion used by a hermit or recluse. The term derives from the Greek erēmitēs and entered Latin and French through early Christian usage. Historically, hermitages emerged as spaces for prayer, penance, and contemplation, often separate from a monastery and located in deserts, caves, mountains, or remote rural sites. They could take the form of a small hut, cell, chapel, or a modest house within a larger religious estate. In broader usage, a hermitage can denote a retreat or secluded residence on an estate or in a town, sometimes used as a country house or artists’ retreat; the word is also used for public or semi-public museum spaces named after their former isolation.

The Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, is one of the world's largest and oldest museums. Founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great, it grew from the imperial collection and is now part of the State Hermitage Museum complex. It houses extensive collections spanning antiquity to modern periods, including European and Russian art. The museum sits across several buildings, with the Winter Palace as its central structure and separate edifices such as the Small Hermitage and the New Hermitage. The museum's holdings include masterpieces by artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt.

In modern usage, the term remains common for tranquil retreat spaces and is also used in the names of places and cultural institutions around the world.