Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, Spanish colonial mission in Oceanside, US.
Mission San Luis Rey de Francia is a Spanish colonial mission in Oceanside with a cross-shaped church and thick walls made of adobe and brick. The buildings blend Baroque and Classical design, and the grounds include gardens, a cemetery, and restored living quarters.
The mission was founded in 1798 and was the eighteenth of twenty-one Spanish missions built in Alta California. It played a key role in colonizing the region during the late 1700s and early 1800s.
The mission preserves written records and objects that show how the Kumeyaay people lived during the mission period. Walking through, you can see firsthand accounts of daily life and work from that era.
The grounds are open to visitors daily, with guided tours in multiple languages offered throughout the week. Comfortable shoes are recommended since there are several buildings and outdoor areas to explore.
At its peak, the mission managed over 950,000 acres of land and raised massive herds of cattle. This made it the largest agricultural operation in California at that time.
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