Images © Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament

Castle San Miguel, Hanceville, Alabama

Castle San Miguel, Hanceville, Alabama is a medieval-style castle housing the gift shop for the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Located on 400 acres of picturesque farmland and completed in 1999, the shrine is an extraordinary site to which thousands of visitors are drawn each year.  

Inspired by the great Franciscan Monasteries and churches of Italy, the shrine's foundress Mother Angelica created a truly magnificent church on an impressive larger complex which includes the castle (actually home to the site's attractive gift shop).   With the shrine visited by individuals and groups but also used as a venue for conferences and larger gatherings, Castle San Miguel is a popular attraction for those seeking a memory of their visit.

Although not quite as inspiring as the church itself, the stone castle is still a sight to behold with an attractive central keep, narrow windows, imposing wooden double doors at the entrance and long crenellated walls on either side.  The castle is definitely worth visiting if you are in the area, even if the interior (essentially the gift shop) doesn't have quite the same medieval character.  The exterior is arguably one of the more impressive castles in North America.

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3224 Co Rd 548, Hanceville, Alabama

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