Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
DESCRIPTIONOf all the missions I have seen so far, Mission San Luis Rey is my favorite. I especially love its gardens and the Lavanderia which is unique to this mission. I am amazed of the size and beauty.
Although Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is the second mission (from south to north) on the Camino Real, "The Royal Road", this mission was founded in 1798 making it the 18th mission. It was named after King Luis IX of France, who led crusades to the Holy Land in the 13th century. It was also nicknamed "King of The Missions," because of its size and how prosperous it was. It has a long corridor with 32 Roman arches that spanned the front of the friary or convento. In just one decade Mission San Luis Rey's livestock grew from 800 to 20,000.
|
INFORMATIONADDRESS: 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92057
PHONE: 760-757-3651 ADMISSION: Prices change so check before you go. WEBSITE: https://www.sanluisrey.org/ ADMISSION: Check website for updated prices HOURS OF OPERATIONS: Monday-Friday, 9:30 am - 5 pm Saturday and Sunday, 10 am - 5pm Closed on New Year's, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas RECOMMENDATIONS: If you wish to visit all the 21 missions, the mission store sells a mission "passport." Every time you visit a new mission they stamp your passport. BEST TIME TO GO: Anytime. In mid to late October and early November the mission has a "Day of the Dead" festival where they bring folklore dancers and Aztec dancers. WARNING:
None |
The mission's prominent missionary leader was Father Peyri who administrated the mission for 36 years. He was a talented architect and builder who oversaw the construction of the mission. It is said that Father Peyri was an energetic leader with a genial disposition and loved by the neophytes.
UNIQUE FEATURES
Mission ChurchWhat makes this mission unique is its church. It is the only surviving mission church that is laid out in a cruciform plan. It was completed in 1815, 165.5' in length and the nave spans 27.5' in with by 30' in height.
|
|
|
The Pepper TreePerhaps one of the most interesting features about this mission is the pepper tree. It is the first pepper tree ever planted in California.
|