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 He ran the monastery’s power plant and was, even by a monk's standards, a withdrawn, quiet man.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

Hotels near Ave Maria Grotto

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Top Ave Maria Grotto Hotel Reviews

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

10/10 Excellent

"Clean room. Enjoyed the restaurant bar and dinner. Convenient and fun"

Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman I-65 exit 310

10/10 Excellent

"Very clean room and very courteous staff. Only two minor issues: there was no shampoo (the squeeze bottle was completely empty) and the refrigerator had a large piece of ice on the inside that was melting - water leaked into the bottom and out on the cabinet."

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 travelers like for its lakeside setting. You'll find 59 hotels and other accommodations within a few miles for a convenient home base.

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

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman is one of the top choices for your stay based on our traveler 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 5 miles include La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman and Hampton Inn Cullman.

How many hotels should I expect to find close to Ave Maria Grotto?

Expedia has 59 hotels and other accommodations 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, most hotel room reservations are fully refundable as long as you cancel before the hotel's cancellation deadline, which often is within 24-48 hours of your scheduled arrival. If you booked a non-refundable reservation, it might still be possible to cancel it and get a refund within a 24-hour period of booking. Plug in your dates, click on "Search", then you can filter by "fully refundable" to get the top deals on offer near Ave Maria Grotto.

What can I see and do near Ave Maria Grotto?

Explore nature at Larkwood Falls and Sportsman Lake Park. 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 WildWater Cullman and Stone Bridge Farms.

Hotels near Ave Maria Grotto

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Our top choices for Ave Maria Grotto hotels

The Flying Fifty, a Luxury Boutique Hotel

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

La Quinta Inn & Suites by Wyndham Cullman

Home2 Suites By Hilton Cullman

Comfort Suites Cullman I-65 Exit 310

Hampton Inn Cullman

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Cullman by IHG

Sleep Inn & Suites Cullman I-65 exit 310

Fairfield Inn & Suites By Marriott Cullman

Best Western Fairwinds Inn

Days Inn by Wyndham Cullman

Quality Inn Cullman I-65 Exit 310

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

Cobblestone Hotel & Suites - Cullman

Hotels near other Ave Maria Grotto attractions

Larkwood Falls

Sacred Heart of Jesus Church

Frequently asked questions