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Known as the "King of the Missions", San Luis Rey de Francia lies in a sheltered valley just east of Oceanside, California on State Highway 76. Named for Louis the IX, the crusading King of France, the cross-shaped church was dedicated on the Feast of St. Anthony in 1798 by Father Lasuen. Note the brown painted border around the mission. |
The brown painted border was still there in 1957.
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Architecturally the most graceful of California's missions, ths San Luis Rey mission has been restored according to the original plans and designs, minus the brown border. |
At the front doors.
The same front doors, or at least, the same style.
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The church, which seats 1,000, is adjacent to a six-acre enclosed central square that includes a sunken garden, elaborate stone terrace and octagonal mortuary chapel. Five meeting rooms are available for groups of 15 to 120. Basic amenities include projection equipment, presentation aids, and full-service catering. The peaceful 200-year-old historical landmark is an ideal location for group tour luncheons, strategic planning sessions, and unique retreat experiences. The mission is situated on 56 acres and offers 50 rooms for overnight stays. |
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Today the mission gardens include a fruit orchard where California's first pepper tree still grows. It was brought here by ship and planted at the mission in 1830 from Peru. Outdoor events in the garden, in the shade of the tree, are planned regularly. |
Capitan Monastario in the shade of the pepper tree.
The wrought iron gates that lead to the cemetery.
The same gates that were there in 1957.
Outside the cemetery.
The bell tower.
Buddy Van Horn as Zorro, climbing down the bell tower.
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Zorro, legendary Robin Hood of early California days, will be swashbuckling about Mission San Luis Rey for the remainder of the week. Actually, the masked rogue is actor Guy Williams, here on location with a company from Walt Disney Studios, which is filming a portion of a new television adventure series to be premiered in October. Director for the series is Norman Foster, who directed the famous "Davy Crockett" that won the adulation of millions of youngsters in the nation in the recent past. A publicity spokesman for the unit said the series will not be a part of the "Disneyland" telecasts, but are to be an independent half-hour program sponsored by 7-Up. Arriving Monday, the company of more than 80 technicians and extras, in addition to Williams and Britt Lomond, who plays the heavy, will be at the historic San Luis Rey Mission until Saturday. Shooting of the series started about two weeks ago, the spokesman said, and the mission probably will be the only location used in the series. Much of the footage will be shot on set at the Disney Studios, or at a ranch near Hollywood. Members of the company are staying in Oceanside and Carlsbad while mission scenes are being filmed. This write up about the filming of Zorro in 1957, hangs inside on the mission wall. |