Thomas Mann Trail

Even today, the "Magic Mountain" draws numerous culture enthusiasts to Davos, on the hunt for the main centre points of the novel of the same name by Thomas Mann. They can be inspired by the Thomas-Mann Trail, which runs from the Waldhotel Davos (formerly the Waldsanatorium) at 1,600 metres a.s.l. to the Schatzalp, 1,880 metres a.s.l. Along the 2.8 km path are ten boards, which serve as "literary stations" and provide information on the connections between Davos and the works of Thomas Mann. High points of the trail include the "favourite place of Hans Castorp", the hero of the novel, whilst the trail ends at Thomas-Mann-Platz on the Schatzalp, which has been established behind the Alpinum Schatzalp botanical garden. Thomas Mann (1875–1955) came to Davos from 12 May to 15 June 1912 to visit his wife Katia, who was being treated at the sanatorium. During this time he took many walks around the area above the sanatorium, an area through which the Thomas-Man Trail runs. Thomas Mann incorporated his impressions of Davos in his novel “The Magic Mountain”, which was published in 1924.