Davos in summer

The Bernina Pass, the Swiss National Park, the Morteatsch glacier, Chur and Arosa are some of the things to see in the Canton of Grisons, the easternmost of Switzerland, dominated by Pizzo Bernina which reaches a height of 4049m.

However, there is also another unmissable location for all those who decide to spend a holiday in this corner of Switzerland and it is Davos, a well-known Swiss citizen who hosts the "World Economic Forum" every year.

In reality this town, despite the international panache that this event has given it, maintains that ancient charm that has so enchanted writers and painters such as Stevenson, Mahn and Kirchner. Much appreciated as a ski resort thanks to its 58 ski lifts and 300 km of slopes, Davos deserves to be explored even in summer, discovering beautiful corners of the city and its surroundings, where nature reigns supreme: the climate is very pleasant, so that in the XNUMXth century many sanatoriums were created for the treatment of pathologies such as tuberculosis and Robert Louis Stevenson himself, author of the famous novel “The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde”, he attended one.

Summer in Davos

It rises at 1560 m above sea level in the Prättigau-Davos region, in the heart of the beautiful Landwasser Valley, crossed by the river of the same name, in the shadow of the Wolfgang Pass. Davos is the highest city in the Alps and is in fact surrounded by legendary peaks such as Piz Linard (3410 m high), the Weissfluh (2843 m high) and the Silvretta mountain group which reaches 9 m high.

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Summer in Davos is characterized by the number of organisers' activities to be carried out in the open air, in particular sports ones, in light of the presence of tennis and football pitches, the athletics track, the 18-hole golf course and the Vaillant Arena. In Davos, from Jacobshorn and from Parsen, you can also practice paragliding, flying like a bird over the magnificent landscapes of the Canton of Grisons.

Don't forget the Davos Lake, where you can relax on its beach or rent kayaks or canoes, not to mention that there is a sailing and surfing centre: the path that surrounds the lake can be followed on foot, with shady stretches that run alongside the woods, populated by friendly squirrels.

There is also no shortage of routes for mountain bike lovers, who can also reach the Bike Academy Davos, where courses are organized for the less skilled on two wheels, complete with practical tests directly on the road. There is also a bike park inside of the Adventure Park Davos Färich, where families can test their skills on Tibetan bridges, pulleys and climbing walls.

In the adjacent town of Kloster, whose typical rural atmosphere contrasts with the more sparkling air of Davos, there is the Madrisa Land Alpine Adventure Park, where you can have fun with safaris in the small zoo, play areas for children and stays in real tree houses, in the characteristic Tipi tents or in the fantastic Gadä star suite.

on the Schatzalp, reachable in just a few minutes by cable car, there is one toboggan run 2,5 km long: it is also open in the evening and has a height difference of 240 m, for a truly exciting experience. At the top of this 1880 m high mountain, which so enchanted the writer Thomas Mann, there is also the historic Berghotel Schatzalp, an ancient sanatorium where the novel is set "The Enchanted Mountain". The path is also dedicated to the German writer Thomas Mann Weg which, in 10 stations, retraces the places linked to the protagonist of the book Hans Castorp.

Summer is the best time to immerse yourself in bucolic beauty of the Alpinium Schatzalp, a botanical garden where more than 5000 species of plants from all over the world are preserved, from China to New Zealand. The route allows you to walk among gentians, edelweiss, bluebells and other flowering plants, each with information signs about their origins and characteristics.

Walking to Davos Platz, therefore in the area further downstream, one cannot help but be attracted by the fifteenth-century tower which, with its height of 70 m, characterizes the skyline of the Swiss town: alongside the Church of St. John probably dating back to the XNUMXth century, beautiful with its stained glass windows created by the symbolist artist Augusto Giacometti.

The other notable church is the Davos-Frauenkirch dating back to the 300th century, located in the settlement of the same name where the painter Ernst Ludwig Kirchner settled: he reached Davos to cure his addiction to drugs, accentuated by the persecution of the Nazis who considered his art typical of the Dresden Secession current to be degenerate. The Kirchner Museum It is housed in a technological building designed by Guyer and Gigon and houses 1400 of his works, including paintings, prints and drawings.

Very interesting is also the Medizinmuseum Davos, where it is possible to learn, through instruments and ancient medical equipment, the history of the treatment of tuberculosis: it was a certain Doctor Spengler who discovered the benefits of the climate of Davos, starting the tourist boom which, since 1865, has been unstoppable.

Finally, the Mining Museum site inside the old Silberberg mine, complete with tools, diorama and display of rock crystals and calcite, but also the Nutli-Hüschi Museum in Klosters, located inside a farmhouse dating back to 1565: among faithfully reconstructed environments, agricultural tools and everyday objects, visitors can learn more about the past of Davos and the Canton of Grisons in general.

What to do and what to see

Thanks to the ski lifts of Schatzalp, Rinerhorn, Weissfluhjoch, Parsenn e Jakobshorn, from Davos it is possible to reach three areas where you can go hiking in wild and uncontaminated places, with around 700 km of paths.

Il Gesteinslehrpfad è the Stone Route and connects Davos with Wiesen, crossing the Zügen Gorge: it retraces a gravel road once traveled by carriages, passes through tunnels, little bridges over the river and the cool gorge, with a look at the Rhaetian Railway whizzing by above. In fact, the Bernina Red Train passes right through Davos, a stone's throw from which there is one of the most scenic points of the railway route, the 65 m high Landwasser viaduct. In reality, the Glacier train also passes through Davos, thanks to which you can reach the beautiful towns of Chur, a thousand-year-old Swiss town with 5000 years of history and ST. Moritz.

From the refuge site on Alpe Saradasca in Klosters, full of information on local flora and fauna, the history of mountaineering and glaciers, you can hike on a circular trail in the shadow of the Silretta glacier, enjoying unparalleled views of this ice giant.

The excursion Flüela-Schwarzhorn-Weg instead it starts from the Abzweigung Schwarzhorn station, from which the path that leads to 2880 m begins. height of the Schwarzhornfugga. We then proceed towards the Punta Nera crest, composed of dark colored amphibolite which thus justifies its name: once we reach the summit of Punta Nera at 3146 m. high, you can even see the Grossglockner and especially Mont Blanc.

Very scenic is the Walserweg o Great Walser Trail: the entire route is 220 km long and is made up of 15 stages, but in this case you follow the stretch that starts from Davos, which goes for 1280 m in the wooded area. high where there is a small community of Walser origin. You descend towards Stefealp, where there is the refuge loved by the painter Kirchner and then continue towards Davos Frauenkirch, from which you can reach the mountain resort of Arosa through the Maienfelder Furgga crossing.

Another excursion that we recommend doing in Davos in summer is the one that starts from Klosters and, alongside a mountain stream, goes up towards the Schlappintobel: you pass the beautiful Schlappinsee lake and then the Walser settlement of Schlappin, and then enter in the heart of a cool forest with a constant view of the Schlappintal valley. The excursion continues towards the Zügenhüttli refuge, to then reach the Madrisa cable car and the Chüecalanda, very populated with friendly and curious marmots: after having enjoyed the most beautiful view of the Grisons Alps, you can reach the destination, namely the Rätscenhorn.

La Sertig Valley it is one of the most beautiful destinations to reach starting from Davos, romantic and historical in light of the many Walser villages born starting from the 1699th century including that of Monstein: the symbol of this settlement is undoubtedly the Hinter Den Eggen, the small church with the characteristic pyramid roof from XNUMX, where the founder of the International Economic Forum, Karl Schwab, got married.
Once you arrive in Sertig, just 11 km from Davos, you can reach the picturesque Duncan waterfall, walking gently through fields and alpine meadows, finally tackling a short rocky stretch just before arriving at your destination.

From the Sertig Valley itself you can reach the pass of the same name until you reach the pass, with a view of the pleasant lakes Public chat e Ravais-Ch, where it is also possible to take a dip challenging the rather cool water temperature. Crossing grassy slopes and plateaus that dazzle with their emerald green color in summer, you reach the Kesch refuge at 2625 m. high, next to which there is another enchanting lake. From here the excursion continues descending towards Alp Digl Chant, crossing Val Plazbi and reaching Alp Muotta.

Among the most recommended excursions to practice in Davos is the one that arrives at grasslands, along a forest road that passes through Höheggen to Steigwald, with magnificent views of the Zügenschlucht gorge. Descending to the junction for this scenic gorge, you walk along the Landwasser river to Wiesen station. From here, a visit to the nearby Wiesen viaduct is a must, considered the second highest of the entire route covered by the Rhaetian Railway, also declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With the same Bernina Red Train you can return to Davos.

Holidays in Davos

The town in the Canton of Grisons is surrounded by an area which, from a naturalistic point of view, is very rich in things to see and discover, via routes and paths that often take many hours. For this reason it is important to have a lot of time available to spend your summer holiday in Davos in a calm and relaxed way, without the rush that could lead you to give up visiting a particular place.

On holiday then it is right to also dedicate yourself to experiencing the culture and traditions of the place, in this case of Davos and this translates into participation in feasts such as Sertig Schwinget, dedicated to the scenic Swiss wrestling which in this case takes place in the Sertig Valley, a stone's throw from Davos.

The culture of a place is also expressed in its cuisine and there are many dishes to taste in Davos and its surroundings, sitting at the table of the town's many characteristic inns and restaurants, thus giving up frugal picnics. The classic one is especially worth tasting Raclette (grilled slices of freshly melted cheese) with pickles, onions and potatoes, i Capuns (spinach and mountain herb rolls), the Bundnerfleisch (dried meat), the Rosti of potatoes and the Büdner Nusstorte, tart made with caramel and walnuts. Not to forget then beer, produced in Bier Vision Monstein: here, in the highest brewery in Europe, the amber drink is prepared with Swiss hops, crystal clear spring water and smoked malt which gives the beer toasted notes of fruit, caramel and nuts.

With regard to accommodation, Davos is full of them, including modern luxury hotels, historic traditional hotels, holiday homes, B&Bs, mountain chalets and pleasant guesthouses: from families to sports enthusiasts to younger tourists, everyone will find the solution that best suits them.