Davos

Davos is an Alpine resort town and a municipality in the Prättigau/Davos Region in the canton of Graubünden, Switzerland. Davos is the highest town in Europe (1,560 m above sea level). The quality and diversity of its facilities is unique. The town is famed for the diversity of sports, leisure and cultural offers, its rejuvenating climate, the HC Davos, the Spengler Cup, the Kirchner Museum, the World Economic Forum and the celebrated freestyle scene on Jakobshorn.

Davos is more cool than quaint. But what the resort lacks in Alpine prettiness, it makes up for with seductive skiing, including monster runs descending up to 2000m, and après-ski parties. These days they come for the excitement of this Alpine resort, both in winter and summer.

Davos is the clear leader in the global meeting market in the mountains. With good reason. It is the annual meeting point for the crème de la crème of world capitalism: The World Economic Forum. Global chat fests aside, Davos inspired Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (of Sherlock Holmes fame) to don skis and Thomas Mann to pen The Magic Mountain. Davos comprises two contiguous areas, each with a train station: Davos Platz and the older Davos Dorf.

As early as 1860 the first Davos guest house was opened to welcome spa guests. The German physician who immigrated here, Alexander Spengler, opened a recuperation spa for lung illnesses, which primarily comprised extensive sleep on the sun terraces of Davos, along with Veltliner wine. 

The first t-bar ski lift in the world was put into operation on the Bolgen. In more modern times, Davos created headlines when it established the freestyle scene in the 1980s. At that time, the Jakobshorn was the only mountain on which snowboarders were permitted to use the lifts.Today, first class leisure options in summer and winter alike in an intact, imposing mountain world, exemplary meeting infrastructure, internationally acclaimed sports and cultural events, renowned museums, galleries and music festivals. 

Magic Mountain

Davos has been frequently associated with the “Magic Mountain” for almost 100 years. The phrase “Magic Mountain” is in fact often used as a synonym for the spot. The most important fact first: “The Magic Mountain” is the title of a novel and masterpiece by Thomas Mann. Thomas Mann gained inspiration for his tale during his own stay in Davos.