Ayuntamiento de San Fernando de Henares

The Ayuntamiento de San Fernando de Henares is the town hall of San Fernando de Henares, a municipality in the Community of Madrid roughly 15 km east of the Spanish capital and directly on the route toward Barajas Airport. The building sits on Plaza de España, a formal square that, together with the adjoining Plaza de Fernando VI, has carried protected historic-artistic status since 1983.

Why this square matters to the town

San Fernando de Henares grew out of an 18th-century "Real Sitio," a planned settlement built around a royal residence on the banks of the Henares river. Plaza de España still follows that original symmetrical layout, and the town hall is one of the buildings that frames it. Anyone standing on the square is looking at more than a municipal office — they're looking at a surviving fragment of Bourbon-era town planning that has kept its shape for two and a half centuries.

What to see around the town hall

The square and its immediate surroundings form a natural short walking route:

• Paseo de los Chopos and Paseo de los Plátanos — tree-lined promenades that are part of the historic layout, good for a quiet walk after the square itself.
• The parish church on Plaza de España, one of the oldest religious buildings in town.
• Castillo de Aldovea, a fortress dating back to the Reconquest era (11th–12th century) and listed as a cultural heritage asset (BIC) since 1949 — a short drive away, but the most significant military monument in the municipality.
• Parque de Europa, a themed park with replicas of famous European landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, a popular family stop just minutes from the centre.

Getting there

San Fernando de Henares has its own metro station on the line connecting the town directly to Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport, making it an easy stopover coming either from central Madrid or straight off a flight. The town also sits on the main roads of the Henares Corridor, so a car journey from Madrid's centre usually takes under 20 minutes outside rush hour.

Is the town hall itself worth the visit

The Ayuntamiento building is not a museum and has no visitor exhibition — it's a working seat of local government. Its appeal lies in context: it stands on a square with protected historic-artistic status, surrounded by 18th-century urban fabric, which makes it a natural stop on a short walk through the old town, particularly for travellers with time to spare between a Barajas flight and their onward journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can visitors go inside the town hall? The building serves administrative functions, so visitor access is limited to office hours and official business; the square itself and its surrounding architecture, however, are open to view at any time.

How do I get there from Madrid without a car? The easiest way is the metro — San Fernando de Henares has a station on the line that runs to Barajas Airport, giving a direct connection from either direction.

What else can I combine with a visit to the town hall square? A short walk along Paseo de los Chopos and Paseo de los Plátanos, and, with more time, a visit to Parque de Europa or a trip out to Castillo de Aldovea.

Is the area around the square historic? Yes — Plaza de España together with Plaza de Fernando VI has held protected historic-artistic status since 1983, reflecting the town's 18th-century origins as a Real Sitio.