Ave Maria Grotto Tours and Activities

Final resting place for Brother Joseph, who created the art that is known as Ave Maria Grotto.This is a cemetery of only monks in residence at St. Bernard Abbey. Ave Maria Grotto, in Cullman, Alabama, is a landscaped, 4-acre park in an old quarry on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey, providing a garden setting for 125 miniature reproductions of some of the most famous religious structures of the world. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on February 24, 1976, and to the National Register of Historic Places on January 19, 1984. The stone and concrete models are the work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard's Abbey, who devoted some 50 years to the project, the last three decades (1932 to 1961) almost without interruption. They incorporate discarded building supplies, bricks, marbles, tiles, pipes, sea shells, marbles, plastic animals, costume jewellery, toilet bowl floats and cold cream jars. Born in 1878 in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Brother Joseph was maimed in an accident that left him slightly hunched due to cervical kyphosis. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager, settling in northern Alabama. Soon afterward he began studying at the newly founded Benedictine monastery of St. Bernard, where he took his vows in 1897. Br. Joseph was not allowed to be ordained as a priest, due to the rule of the period that stated any man with a distracting disability could not be ordained a priest. He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man. Brother Joseph rarely left Alabama, where he died in 1961.
Final resting place for Brother Joseph, who created the art that is known as Ave Maria Grotto.This is a cemetery of only monks in residence at St. Bernard Abbey. Ave Maria Grotto, in Cullman, Alabama, is a landscaped, 4-acre park in an old quarry on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey, providing a garden setting for 125 miniature reproductions of some of the most famous religious structures of the world. It was added to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on February 24, 1976, and to the National Register of Historic Places on January 19, 1984. The stone and concrete models are the work of Brother Joseph Zoettl, a Benedictine monk of St. Bernard's Abbey, who devoted some 50 years to the project, the last three decades (1932 to 1961) almost without interruption. They incorporate discarded building supplies, bricks, marbles, tiles, pipes, sea shells, marbles, plastic animals, costume jewellery, toilet bowl floats and cold cream jars. Born in 1878 in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Brother Joseph was maimed in an accident that left him slightly hunched due to cervical kyphosis. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager, settling in northern Alabama. Soon afterward he began studying at the newly founded Benedictine monastery of St. Bernard, where he took his vows in 1897. Br. Joseph was not allowed to be ordained as a priest, due to the rule of the period that stated any man with a distracting disability could not be ordained a priest. He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man. Brother Joseph rarely left Alabama, where he died in 1961.

Popular places to visit

Bit of. A hick in but man is it gorgeous !

Hurricane Creek Park

Explore the great outdoors at Hurricane Creek Park, a lovely green space in Falkville. Stroll along the lakeside or discover the area's waterfalls.

Hurricane Creek Park
This 270 ft covered bridge was built in 1921 and the only remaining bridge of it's kind in Cullman County. It was used mainly by farmers. It spans the Crooked Creek, site of Civil War Skirmishes under Nathan Bedford Forrest. Many relics have been found around this creek and can be viewed at the museum just down the road. This bridge is open to foot traffic and also offers picnic areas and walking trails. An old water mill is located on the property too. #roadtrip

Clarkson Covered Bridge

Learn about the local history of Cullman when you take a trip to Clarkson Covered Bridge. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Clarkson Covered Bridge
Smith Lake at Unicoi State Park in Georgia

Smith Lake Park

Explore the great outdoors at Smith Lake Park, a lovely green space in Trimble. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Smith Lake Park

Larkwood Falls

Commune with nature and explore the great outdoors at Larkwood Falls during your travels in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Larkwood Falls

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

After visiting Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Cullman County Museum

You can spend an afternoon studying the exhibits at Cullman County Museum during your travels in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Cullman County Museum

Top Ave Maria Grotto Hotel & Accommodation Deals

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

3 out of 5
1835 Main Ave SW Cullman AL
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman

3 out of 5
2054 Saint Joseph Drive Northwest Cullman AL
La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman
The Flying Fifty, a Luxury Boutique Hotel

The Flying Fifty, a Luxury Boutique Hotel

2 out of 5
515 4th St SW Cullman AL
The Flying Fifty, a Luxury Boutique Hotel
Location! Location!<br>Minutes to all shopping and your favorites restaurant!

Location! Location!<br>Minutes to all shopping and your favorites restaurant!

Cullman AL
Location! Location!<br>Minutes to all shopping and your favorites restaurant!
Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman

Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman

2 out of 5
1841 4th St Sw Cullman AL
Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman
Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman I-65 exit 310

Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman I-65 exit 310

2.5 out of 5
2050 Sr 157 Cullman AL
Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman I-65 exit 310
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cullman by IHG

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cullman by IHG

2.5 out of 5
2052 Hays Dr Cullman AL
Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cullman by IHG
Hampton Inn Cullman

Hampton Inn Cullman

2.5 out of 5
6100 Hwy 157 Cullman AL
Hampton Inn Cullman
Comfort Suites Cullman I-65 Exit 310

Comfort Suites Cullman I-65 Exit 310

2.5 out of 5
2048 St Joseph Dr Nw Cullman AL
Comfort Suites Cullman I-65 Exit 310
See all 636 properties in Ave Maria Grotto
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