Visiting Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama
Visit a world in miniature: Ave Maria Grotto in Cullman, Alabama is a collection of 125 small stone and cement structures, many of which are recreations of famous landmarks. Go for a stroll through the works of Brother Joseph Zoettl at the only Benedictine monastery in the state of Alabama.
About Ave Maria Grotto
Ave Maria Grotto is located on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey. The Abbey was founded in 1891 and it is the only Benedictine monastery in Alabama. The Grotto contains 125 small stone and cement structures, many of which are recreations of famous religious landmarks, created by Brother Joseph Zoettl.
Brother Joseph was born in 1878 in Bavaria and came to St. Bernard Abbey in 1892. He worked shoveling coal in the Abbey power house, and in what little free time he had, he created miniature buildings using stone, concrete, and donated materials like broken plates, costume jewelry, ceramic tile, beads, marbles, and seashells.
His earliest creations date back to about 1912, and he finished his final creation in 1958 when he was 80 years old.
Originally, Brother Joseph placed his creations in the gardens near the monastery. But so many people wanted to come see them, that in 1936 the Abbey decided to move Brother Joseph’s handiwork to its present location on the site of a former stone quarry used by the Abbey.
Brother Joseph drew inspiration from the Bible, history, and photographs. He had only seen about 6 of the buildings he created replicas for in real life: those in his hometown of Landshut, Bavaria and those at St. Bernard Abbey. The rest came from photographs and his imagination.
Touring Ave Maria Grotto
You’ll take a self-guided tour through the Grotto. Grab a brochure from the front desk to learn more about each collection of miniatures. There are also informational plaques throughout the exhibit to help you learn about the important creations.
The tour starts out the back door of the visitor center. The first structure is of Bethlehem, commemorating the birthplace of Jesus Christ.
While the majority of the structures are religious in nature, you don’t need to be Catholic to appreciate Brother Joseph’s work. The brochure does a great job of explaining the historical significance of many of the pieces, so you knowledge of the Bible is definitely not necessary.
Throughout, Brother Joseph has also created non-secular structures. The Tower of Thanks is dedicated to his friends who sent him materials for his work. The Statue of Liberty is a tribute to his adopted country. The Red Cross Tower is a tribute to the Red Cross for its work during WWI. The Temple of the Fairies and Hansel and Gretel Visit the Castle of the Fairies are his more fanciful works.
In the middle of the trail, you’ll come to a life-sized statue of Brother Joseph standing across from the Ave Maria Grotto. Brother Joseph stood less than 5 feet tall. His statue also contains a model of his home parish, St. Martin’s Church in Landshut, at his feet, showing that he was nearly as tiny as his amazing handiwork.
At the end of the trail, you’ll find a series of works by Leo Schwaiger, a long-serving Grotto handyman who worked to preserve Brother Joseph’s creations. Leo contributed his own additions to the Grotto in honor of Brother Joseph after his death.
Notable Creations
Brother Joseph has plenty of note-worthy creations. Here are just a few to look out for:
St. Bernard College Buildings
This set of miniatures depicts the history of the Abbey and its Prep School. Brother’s Joseph’s creations include the old log cabin the Abbey was founded at in 1891, the Library, and the Abbey Church along with an earlier proposed version of the Abbey Church.
The Italian Section
The Italian Section is a huge tribute to the Roman Catholics. The majority of the figures are recreations of buildings in and around Rome, like St. Peter’s Basilica, Monte Cassino Abbey, the Pantheon, and the Catacombs. There are other buildings from around Italy, too, like the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Ave Maria Grotto
The Ave Maria Grotto is a 27-foot-high, 27-foot-wide, and 27-foot-deep grotto, or cave, that holds a statue of the Virgin Mary with the Child Jesus in her arms. The cave is decorated with colored stone and glass. Brother Joseph made the stalactites that hang from the ceiling. The altar was made with bits of crushed glass, stone, and cement.
Scenes From the Holy Land
Scenes From the Holy Land is Brother Joseph’s second attempt at portraying scenes and locations associated with the life and death of Jesus, from His birth in Bethlehem to His death and resurrection.
The First “Little Jerusalem”
These miniatures were Brother Joseph’s first attempts at constructing small buildings. They contain scenes and locations associated with the life and death of Jesus.
Lourdes Shrine
The Lourdes Shrine in the south of France is one of the most popular shrines in the world. In 1858, the Virgin Mary appeared to a 14-year-old girl, and a huge church was built on the site. The replica of Lourdes Shrine was Brother Joseph’s final work, built in 1958 when he was 80 years old.
Ave Maria Grotto Visitor Info
The pathway is less than a mile loop that begins and ends at the visitor center. It trails down the hillside of the old quarry for the first half, so be prepared to climb back up on the final half.
Please note that the pathway at Ave Maria Grotto is not wheelchair accessible.
Leashed dogs are welcome.
Location: 1600 St Bernard Dr, Cullman, AL 35055
Admission: Admission to Ave Maria Grotto costs $10 for adults; $8 for teens ages 13-17, seniors, AAA members, and AARP members; $7 for children, military, veterans, and first responders; and free for children 4 and under.
Hours: Ave Maria Grotto is open Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Grotto is closed New Years Day, Easter, July 4th, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Parking: Free parking is available at the Ave Maria Grotto visitor center.
Ave Maria Grotto FAQ
A walk through Ave Maria Grotto takes about 1 hour if you’d like to take your time at each miniature. You could see it all in 30 minutes if you breeze through.
Admission to Ave Maria Grotto costs $10 for adults; $8 for teens ages 13-17, seniors, AAA members, and AARP members; $7 for children, military, veterans, and first responders; and free for children 4 and under.
Brother Joseph built Ave Maria Grotto to pass the time when he worked in the Abbey power house shoveling coal.
Brother Joseph Zoettl built Ave Maria Grotto on the grounds of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, Alabama. At the end of the trail are a few miniatures created by long-serving Grotto handyman Leo Schwaiger.
Where to Stay in Cullman, Alabama
- Top Hotel: Hampton Inn Cullman
- Great Value: La Quinta Inn & Suites Cullman
- Unique Stay: Grace’s Retreat on Smith Lake
More Alabama Itineraries
- Take a Free Mural Tour of Huntsville, Alabama
- Explore Huntsville, Alabama’s Rich History at These Top Sights
- The Best Things to Do in Florence, Alabama
Ready to visit Cullman, Alabama? Plan your trip with these tips.
- Book your flight: Find the cheapest flights using Skyscanner, my favorite flight search engine.
- Find Accommodation: You can find top hotels in Cullman using Booking.com.
- Get Packing: Make sure you’ve packed everything you need with my packing list resources.
Cheers!
Paige
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