California Missions Old Mission San Luis Rey
Mission San Luis Rey, the 18th among the Missions in California is the grandest among the monuments of the Spanish occupation in the State. The building is designed in the shape of across. And, it is one among the only two sites designed like this.
History
Old Mission San Luis Rey came into existence in the year 1798. It is located in the protected valley near the Oceanside. Father Fermin Francisco de Lasuen founded the Mission in this region because it was fertile and promised a bright future for further development. The church which you see today was built in the years between 1811 and 1815. And, it is the third one among those built in this Mission. When completed, this church was the most splendid building in the entire State of California. Even today, the site is known as the “King of Missions.”
At the time of the dedication of the Mission, 54 Indians got baptized and migrated into the site. Within a few months, the Mission was able to prepare a thousand adobe bricks to construct the church. When it was built, it featured a unique design in all the churches in the entire chain. The Mission grew both in prosperity and the number of Indians living therein. The year 1818 saw the peak of growth in the region.
Life went on merrily in the Mission until 1834. At this time, All the Missions got secularized. Mission San Luis Rey was sold for a nominal sum. However, those who bought it didn’t pay any attention to the buildings in the area. The site remained abandoned for a long time. People began taking out the building materials to use to build homes. It acted as a military base for the US during the Mexican War. The site remained abandoned for a few more years.
In the year 1892, a group of Franciscan friars decided to live in the Mission. They rebuilt the site and are in charge of the site even today.
The Mission today
At present, this Mission is a parish church serving the Catholic congregation. It is also a renowned retreat center http://www.sanluisrey.org/retreats/ and an all-time favorite of tourists all over the world. The Mission presents the Spanish occupation in its entirety; the art, architecture, the lifestyle and even the religious fervor of the time.
Activities
The center has a lot to offer to its visitors. Given below is a brief description of some of them.
• Behind the scenes tour: It allows you to gaze at the beauty of the sprawling gardens in the site. The area remains closed to the general public.
• Dia de Los Muertos: The celebration of the “Day of the Dead” is a free event organized every year in the Mission. It features a variety of cultural entertainments, a car show and numerous other fun activities.
• Quiet Monday: Enjoy the sound of silence in the presence of God. Retreats of varying lengths and types, cooking classes and bible study are some of the other excitements waiting for you in this awesome facility.
Welcome to Old Mission – facility offering best San Diego retreats http://www.sanluisrey.org/retreats/. In the King of California Missions would let you feel the excitement of being with God! For more info visit this website http://www.sanluisrey.org/.

Contact :
Contact Person: Maureen Sullivan
E-mail: [email protected]
Old Mission San Luis Rey de Francia
Address: 4050 Mission Avenue, Oceanside, CA 92057-6402
Tel/Fax: (760) 757-3651
Website: http://www.sanluisrey.org/