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 He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man.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.

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Top Ave Maria Grotto Hotel Reviews

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman

10/10 Excellent

"What I measure a hotel by is cleanliness. The entire hotel, room, lobby, dining area, grounds, were all spotless. The breakfast was very good, hot & plentiful with various options. Cookies upon checkin was a nice surprise. This is an excellent well managed location."

Hotels near other Ave Maria Grotto attractions

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.

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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.

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Frequently asked questions

What's the area like around Ave Maria Grotto?

Ave Maria Grotto is located in an area of Cullman that travellers like for its lakeside setting. You'll find 58 hotels and other accommodations within a few miles for a convenient home base.

What's the best place to stay near Ave Maria Grotto?

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman is one of the top choices for your stay based on our traveller data, and this hotel offers free breakfast and a restaurant. It's located 2.5 mi (4 km) from Ave Maria Grotto. Other good choices within a few miles include Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman and Hampton Inn Cullman.

How many hotels are there close to Ave Maria Grotto?

Expedia has 58 hotels and other accommodation options a few miles from Ave Maria Grotto.

If I need to cancel the hotel reservation for my stay near Ave Maria Grotto, will I receive a refund?

Yes! You'll find that most hotel reservations are fully refundable provided that you cancel before the hotel's cancellation deadline, which in most cases is within 24 or 48 hours of check in. If you have a non-refundable reservation, you might be able to cancel it and be given a refund within 24 hours of booking. Enter your dates, click on "Search", then use the filter option "fully refundable" to view the best deals near Ave Maria Grotto.

What can I see and do near Ave Maria Grotto?

Explore nature at Sportsman Lake Park and Larkwood Falls. You might plan a visit to Funzone or Cullman Golf Course while you're in the area. If you want to see more of the surrounding area, you might plan a visit to Stone Bridge Farms and Cullman County Museum.

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Our top choices for Ave Maria Grotto hotels

The Flying Fifty, a Luxury Boutique Hotel

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

Home2 Suites By Hilton Cullman

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman

Comfort Suites Cullman I-65 Exit 310

Hampton Inn Cullman

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cullman by IHG

Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Cullman

Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman I-65 exit 310

Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman

Quality Inn Cullman I-65 Exit 310

Best Western Fairwinds Inn

Red Roof Inn Cullman

Econo Lodge Cullman South

Home2 Suites By Hilton Cullman

Quality Inn Hanceville US Hwy 31

Top Ave Maria Grotto Hotel Reviews

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman

Hotels near other Ave Maria Grotto attractions

Larkwood Falls

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Cullman County Museum

Funzone

Heritage Park Cullman

WildWater Cullman

Sportsman Lake Park

Stone Bridge Farms

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Hotels Near Ave Maria Grotto, Cullman

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