We had planned to see many things in Madrid! An Egyptian temple, however, wasn’t one of them. Yet there it was, welcoming visitors and sharing its secrets, so far from its home. The Temple of Debod actually is a real Egyptian temple, build in Egypt, but dismantled and rebuilt in Madrid. So if it looks out of place, it actually is.
About the Temple of Debod
I don’t know about you, but I was definitely curious about the history of this 2,200 year old temple. It sits out in the elements, not in a museum. It is located in Madrid’s Parque del Oeste, a public park not far from the Royal Palace of Madrid. It turns out the temple was actually a gift from Egypt to Spain! In the 1960’s, ancient monuments like this one were threatened by the creation of a new dam and UNESCO led an effort to save these archeological wonders. Spain offered their help and in return, Egypt gifted them the Temple of Debod in 1968. This temple was dedicated to Amun of Debod and Isis, and dates back to 1-2 centuries B.C. It was rebuilt in its current location and has been open to the public since 1972. It stands as a testament to international cooperation. But for me, the coolest part was that I got to see a real Egyptian temple, even though I haven’t yet made it to Egypt (it is high on my bucket list). And this temple definitely was a teaser and made me want to visit Eqypt even more.
A sunset visit to Temple of Debod is magical
It is said that numbers don’t lie. Sunset is the most popular time to visit the temple. So that is when we visited, and it seemed like a wise choice. Since we were there in winter, we didn’t even have to wait all that late to see the sunset. But where people did wait was the line to visit the temple interior. You can get a sneak peak of the Adijalamani Chapel, the oldest room and heart of the temple, with this virtual visit. It doesn’t make that much difference for the interior, but the exterior was mesmerizing at sunset. The sunset creates this beautiful backdrop for the temple, as you can see in some of my photos. Visitors embrace the serene scene as they watch the sky change colors and the sun make its descent.
The viewpoint from Temple of Debod overlooking Madrid's royal pavilion
Somewhat behind the temple, there is the Temple of Debod lookout point that was a big hit with my family (and many others). We probably spent as much time here as we did looking at the temple. From this lookout, you can see the Royal Palace of Madrid and the cathedral, while listening to local musicians showcase their talents. It was fun to watch at sunset, and continue watching as these key sites lit up as the sun went down. We had visited the palace and cathedral earlier so it was nice to see them from this viewpoint.
Photo above: There is a lot to see at Temple of Debod, and not just the temple. Behind it, the popular lookout spot is packed with visitors and local musicians play live music.
Photo above: The amazing view of Madrid’s Cathedral and Royal Palace behind the Temple of Debod.
A peaceful setting for contemplation
As the sun slowly descended on this temple, located inside a beautiful park, I recharged myself with the tranquility offered just minutes from the hustle and bustle of city-life. At most times of the year, the temple is surrounded by a reflective pool of water that intensifies the effect of the sunset we watched The sky transformed into a canvas of warm colors and the glow of the sun was seen peaking through the temple itself. For us, the air was cool and quiet. People were waiting to see for the first time what the temple has witnessed for over two thousand years. Time easily felt suspended, as I reimagined its history. So many others built it, worshipped in it, admired it from afar, discovered and dreamed of its ruins, dismantled it, and rebuilt it here. I found myself in the only moment I shared with it. Admiring this ancient Egyptian temple in Madrid. It has witnessed so many lives come and gone, and likely many secrets and fears. Now it stands in a foreign land, likely often misunderstood and misinterpreted, holding onto an identify that has shifted over time. It is the perfect place for reflection and inspiration. Particularly with a little sprinkle of magic (a.k.a. my imagination).
Planning a visit to Temple of Debod
It is pretty easy to visit this temple, given its location (you don’t even have to go to Egypt). On top of that, entrance is free. Since there are no tickets, you don’t need to plan for a timed entry. According to the official website for the Temple of Debod, the temple itself is open to the public Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 8pm (last entry at 7:30pm). So don’t plan your visit for Monday! The temple can only accommodate 10 visitors at a time, and it doesn’t accommodate group visits. Certainly expect the possibility of waiting in line to see inside the temple. There was a line when we were there in winter. Otherwise, you can freely explore the exterior. Metro lines 3 and 10 stop at nearby Plaza de Espana, or you can also exit metro line 3 at Ventura Rodriguez. Route 1 on the tourist bus also comes here; get off at stop 10 for Temple of Debod. Visitors are allowed to take photos of the exterior and interior, although flash photography is not allowed inside the temple. Expect low light and low ceilings. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Nearby sight-seeing
It’s easy to combine a visit to Temple of Debod with other Madrid sites. As I already mentioned, you definitely want to checkout the Temple of Debod viewpoint and if the weather is pleasant, the park it is located in offers a nice place to relax, have a picnic, or let kids burn off some energy. Plaza de Espana is only about a 5-minute walk from the Temple of Debod, and was one of my personal favorite plazas in Madrid (it had the better Christmas market when we were there in winter). A little further away, but still within a 10-minute walk, you can shop and eat along Gran Via, or check out the official residence of the Spanish royal family at the Royal Palace of Madrid. Next to the palace is the beautiful Almudena Cathedral, Madrid’s main cathedral. Of course, as I previously mentioned, Temple of Debod can be easily reached by metro so you really can go just about anywhere from here!
