About Cullman
Cullman is easy to miss if you're breezing through Alabama on the interstate. Slow down and you won’t regret making at stop at this small Southern city, which is worth discovering for its heritage alone.
Founded and settled by Bavarian immigrants in 1873, the settlement was known as "the German colony of north Alabama" in its early days. A monastery—Saint Bernard's Abbey—was established and is still home to an order of Benedictine monks. The abbey is home to one of Alabama's more famous tourist sites, Ave Maria Grotto, but there's more to the Cullman area, so stop to see what you can discover in this small Alabama town.
Best Time to Come
Cullman rests on top of a plateau in the southern Appalachian foothills, but it's still a temperate climate like the rest of Alabama. Summers are hot and filled with the famous humidity of the Deep South. Spring and fall are the ideal times to visit, when the temps are mild and the air a little crisper. Come during fall to experience Oktoberfest, a major family-friendly annual event in town. Celebrate the city's authentic German heritage while hoisting a stein at the Festhalle Market. Pack a light jacket, because it gets cool in the evenings in October.
Top Attractions
The top tourist draw in town is Ave Maria Grotto. The grotto features 125 miniature reproductions of some of the world's most famous religious buildings and sites, such as St. Peter's Basilica and the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The miniatures were created by a Benedictine monk at St. Bernard Abbey, who spent his life building this miniscule masterpiece that even kids find fascinating. Learn about Cullman's unique German heritage at the Cullman County Museum. The museum also includes Native American exhibits with artifacts from before the town was settled in the early 1870s.
Farming Is Still King
Take a peaceful afternoon drive on the rural roads around Cullman and you'll likely encounter even slower-moving farm vehicles. Agriculture has always been the top industry in these parts. Local businesses serve farmers, their families and farm workers. The pace of life is decidedly slower here than in the nearby big cities of Huntsville and Birmingham. On certain downtown streets you may feel as if you've stepped onto a Hollywood movie set of the Old South with all the historic homes, mercantile buildings and churches on display.
Getting Around
Interstate 65 runs through Cullman's city limits, but you'd never know the city was there if you didn't venture beyond the exit ramps, since downtown is east of I-65. Cullman is located in North Alabama, 45 miles south of Huntsville and 45 miles north of Birmingham. The closest international airport is Huntsville International Carl T. Jones Field Airport and Pryor Field Regional Airport is in nearby Tanner. Cullman Area Rural Transportation System (CARTS) offers limited bus routes, so it's best to bring your car.
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