Ave Maria Grotto

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 He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man.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 spend time at 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 exploring the galleries in Cullman County Museum in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Cullman County Museum

Best Lodging Options Near Ave Maria Grotto

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

3 out of 5
1835 Main Ave SW Cullman AL
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - 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
Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Cullman

Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Cullman

2.5 out of 5
1855 North Crest Dr. NW Cullman AL
Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Cullman
Home2 Suites By Hilton Cullman

Home2 Suites By Hilton Cullman

3 out of 5
5720 AL Hwy 157 Cullman AL
Home2 Suites By Hilton Cullman
Econo Lodge Cullman South

Econo Lodge Cullman South

2 out of 5
1655 County Road 437 Cullman AL
Econo Lodge Cullman South
“The Flying Carpet” Moroccan Treehouse

“The Flying Carpet” Moroccan Treehouse

Cullman AL
“The Flying Carpet” Moroccan Treehouse
Quality Inn Hanceville US Hwy 31

Quality Inn Hanceville US Hwy 31

2.5 out of 5
810 Main St Ne Hanceville AL
Quality Inn Hanceville US Hwy 31
See all 640 properties in Ave Maria Grotto
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