The hermits actually lived in the caves carved into the basalt tufa. Their opening to Lake Balaton was originally closed off by a rubble masonry wall, with only small windows and doors. The interior of some caves was divided into smaller cells by a partition wall. In addition to the 28 m2 chapel and the hermits' personal cells, a more spacious cave (Cave 3) of nearly 40 m2 may have served as a communal space. The extremely puritanical living conditions were well suited to the ideal of the hermits of the time, a strict abstemious (ascetic) way of life. The hermits lived in community, although the exact number of former inhabitants of the colony is not known. The size of the communal spaces, the number of altars and contemporary examples suggest that some of the cells are still covered with rubble from rockfalls. The hermitage of Zebegény, which was founded by Andrew I and probably also dates back to the same period as Tihany, is very similar in character. In the case of St. Michael's Hill in Zebegény, it is thought that at one time about six hermits may have lived in caves built on two levels, one below the other, in the rock wall overlooking the Danube. The hermitages of Tihany, Zebegény, Bakonybél or Zoborhegy were probably closely linked to a nearby monastery (Benedictine or Basilian), which could have meant support in times of crisis or even for winter food supplies.