The Cullman institution draws many from various spiritual and religious backgrounds.
Nestled in the back of St. Bernard Abbey in Cullman, visitors can find the Ave Maria Grotto, home to miniature, handmade replicas of over 100 of the world's most famous places.
A miniature replication of a Grotto in France
Each of these little wonders of the world was crafted by Brother Joseph Zoettl, one of the first of many Benedictine monks who moved to Cullman in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.
The city was founded in 1873 by Colonel Johann Cullman, a German refugee. He founded it as a place for immigrants, like himself, and brought many of Catholic faith to the Protestant-dominated deep south with him. A Benedictine monastery was formed in Cullman in the late 1800s, which Brother Zoettl was a member of. He dreamed of becoming a priest, but was not able to become one, so he found a different way to express worship.
"He started building small grottos, and then he got interested in forming things with his hands, with cement, and he became basically a folk artist," said Roger Steele, director of the grotto.
The Wayside Shrine
The park itself was not built until 1934 to serve as a permanent home for Zoettl's work. He continued crafting at St. Bernard Abbey until his death in 1961.
In Cullman, visitors can see and experience over 50 years of a man's life work, his physical expression of worship. However, this isn't only an attraction for Catholics. Steele says about 90 percent of visitors are not Catholic, but Catholics from all over the world do come to visit the grotto, which brings diversity to the area.
He hopes that while visitors view Brother Zoetll's art, they'll take some of those spiritual seeds with them when they leave.
"It’s an oasis of peace in a world of chaos," Steele said. "You watch the news and you get depressed. I used to think watching the news in the 80s was depressing, but now it’s worse. It offers a place where you can kind of center yourself again, bring your family, your friends, or just come by yourself and experience the peace of God for a little bit."
The St. Bernard Abbey is located atÌý1600 St Bernard Drive in Cullman, AL 35055.
When you visit, make sure to snap a picture and post it to your social media using #AmbersAlabama.
Fresh Flowers Bloom around the Miniature Grottos in Cullman.
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