Davos

Davos is a common canton of the Grisons, located on the river Landwasser in the District of Prättigau/Davos, in the east of the Suisse. The city is famous to accommodate each year the World economic forum ( World Economic Forum , WEF), meeting of the leaders of planet and the economic elites. Davos is also known as a station of Winter sports, and organizes events such as the Coupe Spengler in Hockey, in which the local team, HC Davos takes part.

Geography

Located at an altitude of 1560 meters, Davos is the highest city of Europe. With a surface of 245 square kilometers, it is one of the most extended communes of Suisse. The agglomeration is made of two entities: Davos-Dorf and Davos-Platz. It lengthens on nearly four kilometers at the bottom of the valley of Landwasser.

November 25th, 2007, the citizens of Davos accepted fusion with the commune of Wiesen; following this fusion, it should become the widest commune of Switzerland in front of Bagnes.

History

The area was populated by the Walser with the Early middle ages.

In 1853, the German doctor Alexander Spengler noted that the microclimate of the valley was favourable with the treatment of tuberculosis and other lung diseases. The village was transformed into place of cure with the construction of sanatoria, hotels and pensions. In 1948, thanks to the Streptomycine, one of these establishments managed to look after tuberculosis and the encéphalite, ringing the knell of the long medical stays in mountain.

Consequently, Davos was transformed into station of sports and center of congress.

Transport

Tourism

Ski

Since a certain number of years, Davos became famous for its ski station. After the very strong passion of the years 1970 and 1980, the city was reaffirmed as a major tourist destination, very appraisal by the jet set.

The five principal skiables fields of Davos:

  • Parsenn/Gotschna

  • Jakobshorn
  • Pischa
  • Rinerhorn
  • Schatzalp

Hotel trade

Because of the type of customers who flow each years to Davos, a hotel trade of quality developed in the city. Among the large hotels of Davos, one can quote:

  • the Hotel Schatzalp Davos which is located at the top in the old sanatorium.

  • Steigenberger Davos View-point which accommodates many participants to the WEF.
  • ArabellaSheraton Waldhuus Hotel in Davos Platz.

Research institutes

  • Federal Institute for the Study of Snow and the Avalanches in Davos
  • World center of radiations
  • Research center for the treatment of the fractures of Foundation AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen)
  • Swiss Institute of research on asthma and the allergies

Demonstrations

Famous characters

Sports

Curiosities

  • reformed Church Holy Johann, Gothic building with a nave of 1514 and its twisted Bell-tower.
  • Town hall, built in 1564
  • Alexander House, built in 1907 to be used as Sanatorium.
  • covered Skating rink, built in 1979 the, vastest of Europe
  • Frauenkirch, built towards 1500
  • Kirchner Museum, works of the painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner, who resided at Davos between 1923 and 1938 {{of}} Site of the museum
  • Musée of the winter sports {{of}} Site of the museum
  • regional Musée {{of}} Site of the museum
  • Musée of the toy {{of}} Site of the museum

Literature

Arthur Conan Doyle wrote an article on the Ski in Davos in 1899. It is also in Davos that is held the novel of Thomas Mann the magic Mountain ( Der Zauberberg ), and more particularly in the sanatorium.

External bonds

  • official site
  • Common of Davos in DHS
  • Davos: olds postcards

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