The history of the LFM
A 140-year legacy
For over 140 years, our history has been shaped by a commitment to education, transmission, and passion.
For over 140 years, we have been dedicated to generations of students, to youth, to the future, and to the friendship between nations.
Our story begins in 1884, modestly, with just a few small classes and a bold ambition: to shape free, enlightened, and curious minds. From the outset, our school has been rooted in the humanist tradition of French education: developing critical thinking, raising awareness, and transmitting universal values such as freedom, solidarity, secularism, and respect for others—without exception.
Today, our school, with two magnificent campuses, welcomes nearly 4,300 students supported by 500 staff members. This impressive growth reflects our appeal, the trust families place in us, and the strength of our educational project. With such scale and human resources, the Lycée Français de Madrid has become a real institution—a vibrant community of knowledge and culture.
The LFM through time…
2025
A new multimedia library
In 2025, the Lycée Français de Madrid inaugurates its new secondary school multimedia library, a space designed to stimulate curiosity, develop critical thinking and open-mindedness, foster intellectual growth, transforming every reading experience into a gateway to new horizons.
2025
LFM’s 140th Anniversary
In 2025, the Lycée Français de Madrid celebrates its 140th anniversary, bringing together the entire school community through emblematic projects and events, highlighting the school’s vitality and innovation.
2019
A new nursery school
In 2019, the Lycée Français de Madrid inaugurates a bioclimatic and eco-responsible nursery school on the Conde de Orgaz campus —modern, bright, and designed to accommodate nearly 550 students.
2013
Extension of the La Moraleja campus
On April 25, 2013, the LFM inaugurates the extension of the campus of La Moraleja (formerly Saint-Exupéry) in Alcobendas, marking a significant step in the school’s development. In addition to welcoming students from preschool to Year 6 (“CM2”, age 10), it also opens a middle school.
1985
LFM celebrates its 100th anniversary
The centenary of the Lycée Français de Madrid is more than a commemoration: not only is it a moment for reflection and recognition, but it is also the opportunity to develop forward-looking projects, bringing together the entire school community, French and Spanish authorities, and many alumni.
1969
LFM moves to Conde de Orgaz
The permanent move of the Lycée Français de Madrid to the Conde de Orgaz campus marked a major turning point in the school’s development, both institutionally and physically. Designed to accommodate the sustained growth in student numbers and given the impossibility of expanding its original historic site, the transfer to this vast residential campus in northeast Madrid began in 1969.
1950s-1960s
LFM during the Franco era
Student numbers continued to grow during the Franco regime, reflecting the fact that an increasing segment of the Madrid intelligentsia saw in French secular and liberal—yet rigorous—education an openness not always found in even the most prestigious Spanish institutions.
1936-1939
The Lycée and the Spanish Civil War
The Civil War led to the school’s closure—which then had nearly 900 students—and the return of seconded staff to France. During this period, however, hundreds of people hiding from militias sought refuge within the school’s premises – an often overlooked chapter in its history.
1919
The “Colegio Francés” becomes the “Lycée Français”
At the end of World War I, the Colegio Francés de Madrid underwent a decisive transformation, officially becoming the Lycée Français de Madrid and marking a key milestone in the history of French education in Spain.
1914
The school during World War I
From August 1914, the school became a center of solidarity for the French community in Madrid: it centralized information, organised donations, and served as a place of remembrance for families affected by the war. A memorial stone was installed at the end of the war to honour the teachers and former students who had lost their lives.
1910
The new “Colegio Francés” opens its doors
A new site for the school of the Société Française de Bienfaisance was inaugurated at the start of the 1910 academic year, located at 12, calle Marqués de la Ensenada. Designed by architects André Galeron and Daniel Zavala, the building reflected modern pedagogical ambitions.
1884-1885
The school of the Société Française de Bienfaisance
Thanks to a subscription, the Société Française de Bienfaisance founded a school in Madrid for the children of the French community to ensure education, solidarity, and cultural legacy within a secular and republican framework.
