On our recent trip through northern Alabama, we visited the St. Bernard College Campus in Cullman. It is home to a wonderful display of most of the world’s great cathedrals and churches created in miniature on a hillside. They are all the work of one man, the late Brother Joseph Zoetl (1892-1961). He was a Benedictine Monk and was the caretaker of the college.
On the grounds of the college, beginning in 1912 and continuing throughout his life, Br. Joseph built replicas of many religious sites from various materials native to the area and also donated by others from around the world. He named his creation the Ave Maria Grotto. It is a National Historic Site today and a “must see” if you are ever in or near Cullman, Alabama.
In all there are over 125 miniature stone and cement structures on the hillside, and all are easily accessible for viewing from a sidewalk that winds up and down the hill.
One of the classic structures in the grotto is St. Peter’s Basilica, a perfect replica of the one in Vatican City, including St. Peter’s Square. Alongside it to the right you can also see a replica of the Coliseum.
Not all of the buildings and shrines are religious in nature. Some are whimsical, and others are historical, such as the Leaning tower of Pisa. There is also a Temple of the Fairies with Hansel and Gretel as guests and a fierce dragon in the dungeon.
The main structure is the grotto, huge cave-like shrine 27 feet high, 27 feet deep and 27 feet wide.
A scale model of Jerusalem is perhaps the most ambitious project Br. Joseph ever attempted. It has many buildings and the Herod’s Gate at the very front.
As you can see from these few pictures, there is a lot of love and work that went into the making of this manmade wonder, and people from around the world come to visit it.
Now, back to that first picture… One of the more fanciful creations of Br. Joseph is this gate, ramps and a set of parallel lines painted on the walkway near the top of the hill. I enlarged a portion of the picture so that you can see what it really is: a chipmunk crossing.
I hope you enjoyed my preview of Ave Maria Grotto, and that you will be sure to include it on your itinerary if you ever get to Cullman.
