Mission San Juan Capistrano

Adjacent to our hotel, this historic landmark and museum is the Birthplace of Orange County. It was founded more than two hundred years ago as the 7th of 21 missions statewide and features a chapel still standing where Saint Serra once celebrated Mass.

Today, it is a monument to California's multi-cultural history, embracing its Native American, Spanish, Mexican and European heritage. Originally built as a self-sufficient community by Spanish Padres and Native Americans, the Mission was a center for agriculture, industry, education and religion.

Famous for the Annual Return of the Swallows, Mission San Juan Capistrano is the "Jewel of the California Missions" and welcomes over 300,000 visitors each year.

Mission Basilica San Juan Capistrano: A Catholic parish located just northwest of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Construction of the parish church was completed in 1986. The church is designed after the Great Stone Church which was destroyed by the great earthquake of 1812.

Ringing of the bells.

The iconic bells ring seven times each day at 9am to honor the legacy of its founder St. Junípero Serra, who founded Mission San Juan Capistrano as the seventh of his nine California missions.

When the church collapsed in a massive earthquake, in 1812, the four original bells survived and were hung in a bell wall the following year. The two largest bells were cast in 1796, the others in 1804.

In 2000 the bells were removed from the bell wall and used for molds to make copies. They were saved after the copies were made and placed in the current location in 2004. The two large bells on display within the Great Stone Church are now the original bells.

Photo Op: The beautiful old world backdrop of the Mission is perfect for wedding photos.