This Protestant church seems to deliberately hide from the hustle and bustle of one of the capital’s main thoroughfares. And that’s not the only unique feature surrounding the Friedenskirche: from the history behind its construction and its architectural peculiarities to the enormous (and practically continuous) cultural offerings that can be found inside, the church is a hidden gem in plain sight in the heart of Madrid.
The origins of the Friedenskirche
The German Evangelical Lutheran Church was established in Spain in 1888, despite being a religion that would remain almost clandestine until a century later. However, beyond the spiritual needs of the German community in Madrid, the construction of the Friedenskirche had an important political motivation behind it.
It all began when Pastor Fritz Fliedner requested a loan to build the church, a request that ended up in the hands of Kaiser Wilhelm II himself. The German emperor, whose goal was to strengthen German identity abroad through religion, not only financed the project, but also became personally involved, even visiting the construction site in Madrid.
The Friedenskirche was inaugurated in 1909 and its location was crucial to its integration into the fabric of Madrid. The German government ceded the gardens of its embassy, a small palace located at 4 Paseo de la Castellana, which no longer exists today.
A Neo-Romanesque church in the midst of the Neo-Mudéjar boom
As Lutheran worship still required a certain degree of discretion at that time, it was decided to build the Friedenskirche as a “courtyard church” or hidden church. That is why, when walking along the Castellana today, it is almost impossible to perceive the existence of a church; what can be seen is the parish house, a sober building with a civilian appearance.
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Inside, the Friedenskirche combines neo-Romanesque elements—semicircular arches and exposed stone—with details from the German emperor’s favorite style for sacred places, neo-Byzantine.
This aesthetic choice is striking because it breaks with the style that was in vogue in Madrid at the time, Neo-Mudéjar. Architects such as Emilio Rodríguez Ayuso and Lorenzo Álvarez Capra—designers of the old Goya bullring (where the Movistar Arena stands today) and the Aguirre Schools (now the Casa Árabe)—looked back to Spain’s medieval past. Neo-Mudéjar architecture filled the city with exposed brickwork in geometric patterns and horseshoe arches, something that can easily be recognized today in buildings such as Matadero, Las Ventas, and the El Águila Brewery.
From Protestant church to immersive shows and a huge Christmas market
Every year, at the end of November, the inner courtyard of the Friedenskirche transports us to Germany with the Christmas Market, one of its most emblematic events. Wooden stalls are filled with traditional Christmas crafts and decorations, recreating a corner of Germany with its famous Glühwein ( mulled wine) and, of course, grilled sausages and gingerbread.
In addition, for the past couple of years, the church has frequently hosted immersivevideo mapping shows, such as Genesis or Enlightenment, in which projections and 3D animations cover the walls and vaults of the temple, inviting visitors to discover its architectural heritage in a new light.
The latest of these shows is FLOW: a seven-stage journey along the course of a river, through springs, forests, and rapids to its mouth. The show combines the symphonic music of composer Bedřich Smetana, inspired by the Vltava, the river that flows through Prague, with immersive video mapping light projections and a touch of electronic music.