Davos

Davos is a municipality in the Prättigau valley of Graubünden that extends across a high valley at about 1560 meters and includes several settlement cores. The two main villages Davos Dorf and Davos Platz lie along the Landwasser road and are separated by open meadows and forests.

The first mention as Tavaus dates back to 1213 when Rhaeto-Romanic settlers opened up the high valley and established pastures. In the 19th century the place developed into a health resort for tuberculosis patients, which accelerated the construction of sanatoriums and infrastructure.

The valley hosts winter sports enthusiasts from across Europe and remains a popular hiking destination through summer months with open alpine meadows. The Sankt Johann Baptist church stands within one of the two village centers and displays the Romanesque building style of the region with later additions from different centuries.

The Rhaetian Railway connects the municipality to larger Swiss cities and several stations are distributed across the valley. Shops and restaurants can be found in the center while the side valleys offer quieter hiking trails.

Every January the municipality transforms into a center for global economics when heads of state and business leaders arrive for the World Economic Forum. The gathering brings thousands of participants and heightened security measures to the otherwise quiet valley.