The Temple of Debod, an Egyptian shrine more than 2,000 years old, stands in the Cuartel de la Montaña park, a few minutes' walk from the Plaza de España and the end of the Gran Vía. The interior can be visited free of charge from Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 8pm (last entry 7:30pm), and booking is recommended; the park and its surroundings remain open outside these hours, especially at sunset. In the early 2nd century BC, the Nubian king Adikhalamani built a chapel dedicated to Amun and Isis, later enlarged by the Ptolemies and then by the Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius. Threatened by the reservoir of the Aswan High Dam, the temple was given by Egypt to Spain in 1968, in thanks for its help in rescuing the temples of Nubia, then dismantled, shipped and rebuilt stone by stone in Madrid, where it opened to the public in 1972. It keeps its original east-west orientation.
Highlights
The temple and its gateways at dusk
Two stone gateways stand in front of the temple, aligned on its axis beside a pool. As night falls, the floodlit stones and the sky blazing behind the Casa de Campo draw photographers and strollers every evening.
The chapel of Adikhalamani
At the heart of the temple, the walls of the chapel built by the Nubian king still bear reliefs of offerings to the gods and hieroglyphs. The route inside also includes models and projections explaining the history of the monument and its rescue.
The temple lit up
After closing time, the gateways and the façade stay floodlit and can be seen from the esplanade, which never closes. The temple façade still shows its capitals with plant motifs.
The Cuartel de la Montaña viewpoint
On the western edge of the park, the terrace overlooks the Manzanares valley and the Casa de Campo. To the south, you can make out the [Royal Palace](/fr/attractions/palais-royal-de-madrid) and the dome of [Almudena Cathedral](/fr/attractions/cathedrale-de-l-almudena).
Opening hours and access
Free entry, booking recommended on the Madrid City Council website. Tuesday to Sunday and public holidays from 10am to 8pm (last entry 7:30pm), from 10am to 7pm between 15 June and 15 September (last entry 6:30pm); closed every Monday, including public holidays, and on 1 and 6 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. The narrow interior, with steps, is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Entry costs nothing, but capacity inside is limited: book a time slot on the Madrid City Council website, or turn up early in the morning. For the sunset, which is at around 8pm in early October and around 6:30pm in late October after the clocks go back, arrive half an hour early to find a spot on the esplanade or at the viewpoint. Opening hours and access to the rooms can change: the City Council advises checking before you go.
How to get there
Calle de Ferraz, 1, 28008 Madrid (Cuartel de la Montaña park). Metro Plaza de España (lines 3 and 10) or Ventura Rodríguez (line 3), a 5-minute walk. Buses 1, 2, 3, 25, 39, 44, 46, 74, 75, 133, 138, 148, C1 and C2. From the [Gran Vía](/fr/attractions/gran-via-madrid), cross the Plaza de España and walk up to the park.
Opening hours
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