CASTLE SAN MIGUEL

I received E-Mail that said:

I would like to submit a castle in Alabama for your consideration. This is from an article in the Birmingham News and in Memory of Thomas Price Turner.

PILGRIMAGE CENTER NEARS COMPLETION
By Greg Garrison

Mother Angelica, the TV nun who built a 13th century style monastery and shrine in Cullman County has added a multi-million-dollar castle that will serve as a pilgrimage center when it opens next month.

"It's difficult to make a 13th century anything" said Mother Angelica who hopes to open the castle to the public by the end of September. "The problem is that if you have one thing that's 20th century in the midst, you're finished."

Castle San Miguel, as she calls it, features 40 foot tall turrets, and stone walls on the outside. Inside, it's already adorned with nine full-size suits of armor, most made in Spain, including a replica of the armor worn by Richard the Lion Hearted, King of England from 1189 to 1199 A.D.

The castle also has an Italian wood carving of Michael the Archangel, marble floors, vaulted wooden ceilings, and wood plank tables made out of 600 year old doors. Mother Angelica says she's not finished - she also plans exhibits of medieval manuscripts such as papal bulls.

Later, I received E-Mail that said:

I called the Cullman County Chamber of Commerce in regard to the castle in Hanceville, Alabama. I was told that the castle houses the gift shop for the Our Lady of the Angels Monestary.

Later, I received E-Mail that said:

I recently (August 2003) visited CASTLE SAN MIGUEL in Hanceville, Alabama. As your site indicates it contains the gift shop for the Medieval style (13th century) Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament of the Our Lady of the Angels Monastary. It also contains a conference center and a "Grand Hall" containing medieval furniture and suits of armor.

Back to "Castles of the United States"

A special thanks to Bruce Wayne Rasco for sending this in.
A special thanks to Susan Martin for sending the photo.