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Templo de Debod: Ancient Egypt in Madrid

Madrid is thousands of miles from Egypt yet an authentic Egyptian temple sits in the middle of the city. The Debod Temple or Templo de Debod is one of Madrid’s most popular attractions. We made it to the area last year to marvel at the temple and also found a hidden gem in its surrounding park. Read on to find out how this temple got here and what else one can do around this area.

Cuartel de la Montaña

History

This Egyptian temple dates all the way back to the 2nd century BC. It was dedicated to the ancient King of the Gods, Amon, and the Goddess Isis. The temple’s original site was at Debod, near the city of Aswan in the Nile Valley. The temple along with other priceless monuments and sites needed to be moved due to the construction of the Great Dam of Aswan in 1960.

UNESCO made an international appeal to salvage these monuments from being destroyed or going underwater due to the dam. Fortunately, many responded. The Egyptian government donated this particular temple to Spain in 1968 as gratitude for its aid especially in saving the Abu Simbel’s sacred buildings.

Templo de Debod Madrid

It was a large undertaking in 1969 to dismantle the temple stone by stone. It was then shipped to Valencia, Spain and then traveled by train to Madrid. It took a couple more years for the temple to be reconstructed here and was finally open for the public to visit in 1972. Cuartel de la Montaña Park has been Templo Debod’s home since then.

We made our way to the park which was located next to the Paseo del Pintor Rosales and down the street from Plaza de España and near Madrid’s Royal Palace. It was a clear and crisp late Autumn day in Madrid. We loved seeing all the red, yellow and orange colors that surrounded us from the bushes to the trees. We enjoyed the opportunity to actually be in an Autumn scene like this which we don’t find at home in San Diego. It was also surprising to find that there weren’t that many people around this park on a Sunday afternoon.

Templo de Debod park

The Temple

The Temple of Debod was surrounded by water which made for some fantastic reflections. It was positioned from East to West similar to how it was laid out in Egypt. The complex included three stone gateways and the temple which was a lot smaller than what I expected. I’m sure it’s also very beautiful at night.

Templo de Debod Madrid

 

It is possible to go inside the temple for a little tour and see some hieroglyphics and artifacts. Due to its size, a limited number of people at a time are allowed inside. There are chapels, a terrace and a museum showing the monument’s history and how it was moved here. Unfortunately, we didn’t get the opportunity to go inside since it was closed.

Templo de Debod building

Beyond the Temple

There is a bit more to this park beyond the temple. We found neatly manicured lawns and hedges, fountains and plenty of seats. The historical Cuartel de la Montaña park was once the site of the 19th century Montaña military barracks.

Park around Templo de debod

We followed some of the people who made their way to a lookout point. This is a popular area to watch the sunset as it looked out into the city. We loved the views of the Almudena Cathedral and El Palacio Real from here. I’m sure it’s even more stunning during sunset hours and at night when the city lights are twinkling.

Madrid Almudena Cathedrall

Here is a close-up of the Almudena Cathedral or Santa María la Real de La Almudena which is the seat of Madrid’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese. It looks even more grand from this vantage point. This is a beautiful cathedral. Don’t miss going inside if you’re visiting Madrid.

Almudena Cathedral Madrid

We spent less than an hour at the park but it was a relaxing and quiet stroll amidst the hustle and bustle of Madrid. My kids enjoyed seeing an actual Egyptian temple but also enjoyed the chance to run around in open areas. It’s a unique attraction compared to the palaces, plazas and cathedrals around Spain. From pictures I’ve seen, going here around sunset and dusk makes for some dramatic pictures and the temple almost looks mystical. If you have some time and near the area, it is a good place to stop and enjoy the views.

Madrid with kids

Visiting Templo de Debod Basic and Tips

  • Admission is FREE to the park and museum.
  • Getting There: Use Bus 74 and Plaza de España Metro Stop or the Madrid-Príncipe Pío train stop. The address is Ferraz, 1 28008 Madrid, Parque del Cuartel de la Montaña
  • Temple Hours: It is closed on Mondays and public holidays. Tuesday to Friday, April 1 to September 30: 10AM – 2PM and 6-8PM. October 1 to 31 March 31: 9:45am to 1:45pm and 4:15-6:15PM. Saturday and Sunday: 10AM – 2PM.
  • Guided tours are available every Saturday from 11:30AM-12:30PM with prior reservation. 

*Have you visited Templo de Debod?

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Templo de Debod Madrid

13 thoughts on “Templo de Debod: Ancient Egypt in Madrid”

  1. So very cool Mary – I have never heard of this in Madrid. You learn something new every day! I enjoyed seeing part of an Egyptian temple in New York at The Met so I know I would love this!

  2. Wish I’d known about this temple when I visited Madrid. It’s such a generous and amazing gift to Spain. I’ll be putting this on my list for my return visit. Thanks, Mary!

  3. I didn’t realize there is an Egyptian temple in Madrid. I think the one at the Met in NYC was also moved because of the construction of the same dam. I’m glad that UNESCO had the idea to relocate them instead of being submerged in a lake. My kids also like having a big open space to run around in whenever we visit busy cities, so I’m guessing they would like this park, too.

  4. I was in Madrid about 10 years ago, but totally missed this Egyptian temple. I wonder how is that possible? It looks quite interesting and I’m really sorry I didn’t get to see it. Your photos of Madrid are astounding, Mary. You brought back some sweet memories from this beautiful city.

  5. Mary, I’ve never been to this temple. I’ve been through Madrid a couple of times in the last few years, but never seem to stay long enough to do much. I’ll have to put it in my list!

  6. Hi, How are you? What is your plan for this new year? Would you like to travel cheap or even get paid for travel on this new year?

  7. Suze - Luxury Columnist

    I didn’t realize that there was an Egyptian temple in Madrid but I will make sure to visit it if I go to the city. I’m planning a trip to Andalucia next year though I think Madrid is a little too far from there

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