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Madrid might seem an odd place to find an authentic ancient Egyptian temple, but theres an interesting story behind the Temple of Debod (Templo de Debod).
History of the Temple
The Temple of Debod was originally constructed around 200 BC about 15km south of Aswan, Egypt, not too far from Philae Temple. In 1960, due to the construction of the Aswan High Dam, the temple was under threat of destruction.
Thanks to Spain’s efforts in preserving the temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt decided to donate the temple as a sign of gratitude. It was carefully dismantled and rebuilt in Parque del Oeste, one of Madrid’s largest public parks, and was unveiled to the public on July 20, 1972. It’s one of the few ancient Egyptian temples that can be found outside of Egypt and the only one in Spain.
Views
From the temple, it’s possible to get good views of the city. It’s easy to spot the Almudena Cathedral and the Royal Palace.
Mountain Barracks
On the site where the Temple of Debod now sits, the Mountain Barracks (Cuartel de la Montaña) once stood. These military barracks were built in 1863. They were notorious for being the place where the July 1936 military uprising against the Second Spanish Republic began in Madrid. After the Spanish Civil War, they were left in ruin and later demolished.
At the steps leading up to the temple is the Monument to the Fallen in the Mountain Barracks (Monumento a los Caídos en el Cuartel de la Montaña). It’s dedicated to those killed during the uprising and depicts a mutilated man in the center of a wall shaped like sandbags. The monument was unveiled the same day as the temple.
