Cancel

Open app

Search

Carmel Valley Branch

4.8 (4 reviews)
Closed • 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Carmel Valley Branch Photos

More like Carmel Valley Branch

Recommended Reviews - Carmel Valley Branch

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

10 months ago

Great people with a wonderful setting. Super responsive to all requests. Comparable to libraries from much larger cities.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 years ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Wonderful library in a beautiful location. Love the fire place and natural light. Close to the beach!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Kim H.
797
650
16886

17 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

Ask the Community - Carmel Valley Branch

Verify this business for free

Get access to customer & competitor insights.

Verify this business

Carmel Mission Basilica - The main chapel of the Basilica

Carmel Mission Basilica

4.2(217 reviews)
11.1 mi

Carmel Mission Basilica (formal name 'San Carlos Borroméo de Carmelo') is one of six minor…read morebasilicas in the state of California (five being former Spanish missions). It is the oldest one, founded in 1770, and elevated to basilica status by Pope John XXIII in 1960. My wife, her mom, and I visited it during a late Sunday afternoon during our first day in Carmel, and found it to be a great, worthwhile experience, especially if one is Roman Catholic. The basilica is still a working parish, so parking during non-mass hours was easy to find. A ticket booth was set-up at the visitor entrance, with cost of $15 per adult ($13 for senior). There is an adjacent gift shop that doesn't require admission and sells all the various religious items that one would expect from a religious tourist attraction. We ended up spending about 90 minutes here (there is a lot of information here, along with a lot to see). -- Founding priest was Junipero Serra ("Apostle of California"). He was canonized by Pope Francis in 2015, and his shrine/remains are interned here. -- Only U.S. church visited by a pontiff during a papal visit: Pope John Paul II in 1987. He paid homage to Father Serra, and laid flowers at the tomb. This visit is clearly commemorated. -- the Munras Family Heritage Museum is worth going to, to see a short movie about the prominent Monterey family, along with early California artifacts from the family. -- the Nativity scene was one of the most intricate -- the large courtyard is a good place to stop and admire the architecture of a California Spanish mission, along with a thick trunk Cork Oak tree By the time we were leaving, the ticket office had closed (last call is at 16:30, to allow everyone to have enough time before official close at 18:00).

My friends took me to the Basilica and we enjoyed walking around the grounds and visiting the…read morevarious Chapels within the site. It is also the final resting spot of Saint Junipero Serra, the Founding Father of California. Pope John Paul II visited here in 1987 and is recognized in the Our Lady of Bethlehem Chapel, which is a beautiful, small chapel with a confessional from years ago. The Mission Cemetery is the final resting place for some members of this Parish. It also includes a symbolic cemetery representing the hundreds of indigenous people buried here and the surrounding area. These grave sites are adorned with abalone shells as an honorary recognition of their cultural presence to the area. There are several museums on site, beautiful artwork and religious artifacts as well as an extensive courtyard to wander around. Finally, there is a display of the final resting place for Saint Junipero as well as reproductions of other parts of the Basilica back in the day. The price of $15 for adults/$12 for seniors may be a little steep for families, but it is worthwhile to explore the history of the renowned Basilica.

Photos
Carmel Mission Basilica - Main chapel

Main chapel

Carmel Mission Basilica - One of the rooms in the Basilica representing the decor at that time.

One of the rooms in the Basilica representing the decor at that time.

Carmel Mission Basilica - Nativity Scene

See all

Nativity Scene

Carmel Valley Branch - libraries - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...