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Tourist Places in Davos |
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| Friday, 18 April 2008 | |
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History
of davos
Davos, a high valley extending 16km/10mi southwest from
the Wolfgang pass and traversed by the Landwasser, is the second largest
commune in Switzerland (254 sq. km/98 sq. mi) - larger than the canton of Zug.
The twin settlements of Davos Platz and Davos Dorf have increased their
population five-fold over the last 100 years and have
now united to form a built-up area 4km/2mi long.
Surrounded by forest-covered mountains and sheltered from rough north and east
winds, Davos enjoys a climate (bracing but not excessively so, with plenty of
sunshine and dry air) which has made it one of Switzerland's leading summer and
winter resorts.
The name of Davos (in the form Tavauns, which later became Dafaas) appears for the first time in 1160, in a document in the episcopal archives in Chur. In 1289, 14 families from the Valais established households here. After the death of the last member of the Toggenburg family in 1436 the League of the Ten Jurisdictions was formed. In 1649 Davos purchased its freedom from Austrian sovereignty. A large ice-rink (24,000 sq. m/28,704 sq. yd) for the world figure-skating championships and the European speed skating championships was opened in 1899, and in the same year the Davos-Scatzalp toboggan run came into operation.
Tourist
Attractions in davos
Davos-Parsenn-Bahn The mountains on the west side of the Davos valley were made conveniently accessible by the opening in 1931 of the Davos-Parsenn-Bahn, a funicular 4,106 m/13,472ft, time 25minutes). From the Höhenweg station (2km/1mi: 2,219 m/7,281ft) there are magnificent mountain walks without any real climbing. Dörfji / Pischabahn The Flüela valley is a good walking and skiing area (nature reserve). The road from Davos Dorf crosses the Flüelabach (waterfall, five-minute walk) and comes in 4km/2mi to Dörfji (1,810 m/5,940ft: bus station, restaurant), from which the Pischabahn (length 2,030 m/6,660ft, height difference 680 m/2,231ft, time six minutes) serves Pischa (2,483 m/8,149ft: inn). From there it is a climb of two hours to the summit of the Pischahorn (2,980 m/9,777ft). Flüela pass 13km/8mi beyond Tschuggen is the Flüela pass (2,383 m/7,819ft: mountain inn), the highest mountain pass in the Grisons, 3.75 hours on foot from Davos Dorf. Jakobshorn A cableway constructed in 1954 runs up to the Ischalp (1,931 m/6,336ft: restaurant), and from there to the Jakobshorn (2,590 m/8,498ft: restaurant), from which there are splendid panoramic views. From here a marked path runs down through groves of rhododendrons to the Ischalp (1.25 hours). Ski-lifts from the Ischalp serve the Brämebüel skiing area (2,477 m/8,127ft). Schatzalp From Davos Platz the Schatzalpbahn (funicular, length 716 m/2,349ft, height difference 301 m/988ft, time five minutes) ascends to the Schatzalp (1,861 m/6,106ft: hotel and restaurant); on foot 1-1.5 hours. 350 m/1,148ft north of the Berghotel is the Schatzalp Alpine Garden (Alpinium), which contains 7,550 plants and 550 species and sub-species (free admission with funicular ticket). From the Schatzalp a rewarding walk via the Podestatenalp, Lochalp and Grüenalp leads to Davos (2.25 hours). The Schatzalp-Davos toboggan run is 2.5km/2mi long with well-cambered bends. Sertig Dörfli In summer the postal bus runs up the Sertig valley to Sertig Dörfli (1,861 m/ 6,106ft: restaurant), in a superb mountain setting (a popular trip with walkers, plant-lovers and animal lovers). |
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 18 April 2008 ) | |
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