The Red Door, 6x6 oil painting on Raymar canvas panel

Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, California is the "King of the Missions". Named for King Louis IX of France, this was a former Spanish mission.  It iis still a working mission today, cared for by the people of the parish.  The Red Door is one of the many doors leading to the interior of the main building.  This mission has two asistencias, or sub-missions, associated with it.  Since the California missions were set up to be a day's travel between them, I often wondered how someone got from Oceanside to San Gabriel in one day (a distance of 89 miles).  I did some research, and I found there were ranches that provided lodging for travelers in-between.  The two asistencias (stations) for Mission San Luis Rey are Las Flores, near San Clemente and San Antonio de Pala, near Pala Mesa.  Some of these asistencias are still standing, and I plan to go back and visit them, as I visit all 21 of the California missions.

Purchase this Painting