Cullman, AL

Travel Guide

Welti Falls near Cullman, AL.
Welti Falls near Cullman, AL.
This was a quick after work ride n find.
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 He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man.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.
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
Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

3 out of 5
1835 Main Ave SW Cullman AL
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cullman. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (754 reviews)
samantha was great. super helpful.

Reviewed on Jan 9, 2026

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Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman
Hampton Inn Cullman

Hampton Inn Cullman

2.5 out of 5
6100 Hwy 157 Cullman AL
Fully refundable
The price is ￥16,068 per night from Jan 29 to Jan 30
￥16,068
￥18,792 total
Jan 29 - Jan 30
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cullman. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (624 reviews)
Quick check in, good location, helpful staff.

Reviewed on Jan 3, 2026

Hampton Inn 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
The price is ￥14,615 per night from Feb 1 to Feb 2
￥14,615
￥17,139 total
Feb 1 - Feb 2
includes taxes & fees
Book a stay at this business-friendly hotel in Cullman. Enjoy free breakfast, free WiFi, and free parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (1,000 reviews)
Clean room, courteous staff

Reviewed on Jan 5, 2026

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman
See all 1,329 properties in Cullman
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Family Friendly Lake House

Family Friendly Lake House

Cullman AL
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Cullman. Enjoy free WiFi, a water park, and a garden. Popular attractions Smith Lake Park and Goat Island ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (171 reviews)
The house was nice and clean. There were 14 members of our family celebrating Christmas at this wonderful house. We really enjoyed the game room. The kitchen had everything we needed to cook our meals for the 2 nights we were there. We would definitely stay there again!

Reviewed on Dec 23, 2025

Family Friendly Lake House
Cabin A at Smith Lake Alabama Cabin’s

Cabin A at Smith Lake Alabama Cabin’s

Cullman AL
Stay at this cabin in Cullman. Enjoy free WiFi, a garden, and patios. Popular attractions Goat Island and Smith Lake Park are located nearby.
9.6/10 Exceptional! (73 reviews)
The cabin is cute, clean, homey, comfortable and quiet. Had everything we needed. A warm place to relax. Just for what we were looking for our cold, wet Christkindlmarkt visit.

Reviewed on Dec 7, 2025

Cabin A at Smith Lake Alabama Cabin’s
Expansive Retreat with Heated Pool & Gorgeous Views

Expansive Retreat with Heated Pool & Gorgeous Views

Cullman AL
Book a stay at this family-friendly vacation home in Cullman. Enjoy free WiFi, private pools, and a garden. Popular attractions Goat Island and Smith Lake Park ...
9.8/10 Exceptional! (36 reviews)
The pool was amazing and all the activities kept my 5 grandchildren happy and entertained

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2025

Expansive Retreat with Heated Pool & Gorgeous Views
See all properties in Cullman
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

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

Ave Maria Grotto

4.5/5(26 reviews)

You can spend an afternoon browsing the exhibits at Ave Maria Grotto during your travels in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Ave Maria Grotto

Smith Lake Park

4.5/5(21 reviews)

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

Stone Bridge Farms

After visiting Stone Bridge Farms, make a plan to see the other sights and activities in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

Stone Bridge Farms

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

WildWater Cullman

Enjoy an outing to WildWater Cullman during your stay in Cullman. While you're in the area, stroll along the lakeside.

WildWater Cullman

Sportsman Lake Park

4.5/5(9 reviews)

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

Sportsman Lake Park

Other places like Cullman

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