From the Danube to the Manzanares

Germans and Austrians in Madrid’s History and Culture

Some traveled all the way to southern Europe in search of new opportunities in the Spanish capital, while others simply found themselves in Madrid through the twists of history. For centuries, the city has welcomed men and women from the German-speaking world, whose lives and achievements have left a lasting mark on Madrid.

Para las reinas de la Casa de Habsburgo, el camino a Madrid estaba marcado de antemano: los matrimonios dinásticos sellaban la alianza política entre los grandes baluartes católicos de Europa, Austria y España. Pero no fueron solo las soberanas quienes llegaron a esta capital aún en formación. A lo largo del tiempo, políticos, científicos, artesanos, restauradores, escritores, fotógrafos e incluso personajes marginales encontraron en Madrid un lugar donde vivir, trabajar o dejar su huella. Desde el siglo XVI, prácticamente todo el espectro social germano-austríaco ha estado presente en la ciudad.

Those who look beyond the surface soon discover how deeply the history of Madrid and Spain has been shaped by influences from Central Europe. In iconic places such as Plaza Mayor, the Literary Quarter around Plaza de Santa Ana, the Paseo del Prado, Puerta de Alcalá and Gran Vía, visitors encounter the traces of German and Austrian immigrants time and again.

This guided walk celebrates this shared heritage through an itinerary that not only takes you through some of Madrid’s most iconic neighbourhoods and landmarks, but also pays tribute to extraordinary men and women whose lives helped shape the city’s history. Spanning more than four centuries, the tour introduces figures ranging from Anne of Austria in the sixteenth century to modern personalities such as Willy Brandt and Günter Grass, as well as pioneering scholars like Hugo Obermaier and courageous artists and activists such as Gerda Taro and Ilse Kucsar, whose stories are closely intertwined with the darkest years of the Spanish Civil War.

A fascinating journey into one of the most unexpected chapters of Madrid’s cultural history.