City
at the Summit Snow. Ice. Politics. Glamour. Davos is a cosmopolitan, scenic
wonderland
– with a taste of the Old World and the passion of
the present.
By
Daniel Caruso
Davos is Europe’s highest town.
The Steigenberger Hotel Belvédère.
Angelina Jolie at the 2005 World Economic Forum.
Cross-country skiers enjoy the superb Nordic ski facilities
in Davos.
Davos Calendar
of Events
January
25 - 29, 2006
World Economic Forum-Davos
February 4 - 5
Davos Nordic, FIS Cross Country Skiing World
Cup
February 9 and 11
Ice Gala Davos - “Spirit of Olympia”
March 31 - April 2
72nd Parsenn Derby Traditional Ski Race
Nightlife
Piano Bar
Hotel Europe; Promenade 63
081.415.4141
Casino Davos
Promenade 63; 081.410.0303
Villa Palatini
Promenade 64; 081.413.6376
Perched
at 5,100 feet above sea level – and surrounded by the
magnificent alpine peaks of the Alps –
Davos, Switzerland, lays claim to the title of highest city
in Europe. One of the 12 featured “Classic Mountain
Resorts” by Best of the Alps, this winter wonderland
– with its fresh mountain air and metropolitan feel
– has been at the forefront of European travel for more
than a century. The World Economic Forum
(WEF) is held here each winter, with the planet’s most
powerful people discussing global issues and enjoying the
luxurious amenities Davos has to offer – including modern
conference facilities, grand hotels, a plethora of restaurants
and shops, and exhilarating winter sports.
Known as a world-class ski destination, and the largest ski
area in the Alps, Davos and Klosters (connected
by ski lifts, and only ten minutes apart by car or train)
boast seven ski regions, promising the right terrain for every
level of skier. From the endless and meticulously groomed
pistes of Parsenn, to the rugged and untamed
backcountry slopes of Rinerhorn, the possibilities
of exhilaration on snow are vast and varied. Prince
Charles and his Royal entourage have visited Klosters
for decades, and Hillary Clinton has become
so fond of the skiing at Parsenn, that there is now a run
named after her. World Cup Champion and Olympic medalist Paul
Accola, a regular competitor at The Parsenn
Derby, the world’s oldest and most prestigious
charity ski race, hails from Davos. The 72nd Derby (held March
31 through April 2) will continue to draw skiing’s greatest,
including Olympic champs such as Bernhard Russi
and Franz Klammer. Not to be missed is Saturday
evening’s Derby Ball.
The superb skiing doesn’t end when one schusses back
into town, because the Nordic ski facilities are also unparalleled.
With 75 kilometers of prepared track through the forested
valleys and along the alpine streams, cross-country skiing
in Davos provides yet another way to experience this mountain
oasis. The ultrafit cross-country professionals are a sight
to behold during the winter season. On February 4 and 5, Davos
Nordic brings in the best for the final World
Cup qualifying race before the 2006 Olympic
Games in Torino.
Ice-skating has been a winter passion in Davos for centuries
– for beginners, figure-skaters, speed-skaters or hockey
enthusiasts. From the frozen pond at the Seehof
to the multiple rinks at the Ice Stadium,
there is plenty of polished ice available for glissading.
This year’s Ice Gala Davos-
“Spirit of Olympia,” featuring Olympic
figure skaters, takes place February 9 and 11. The Hockey
Club Davos (HCD), a professional team and the current
Swiss Champion, plays host to the annual Spengler
Cup. This rich-in-tradition tournament, which is
held December 26 - 31, features renowned international and
professional teams, such as Team Canada, Sparta Prague
and Jokerit Helsinki.
But unlike the other famed ski villages of the Alps, Davos
the city offers much more than winter sports and the highlife.
The leaders of more than 30 first-world nations – as
well as powerful business leaders and celebrities –
congregate for a week in late January. In the past few years,
the WEF has attracted socially conscious stars, enhancing
its glamour factor. Angelina Jolie and Richard
Gere show up to vie for humanitarian efforts to combat
global poverty. Sharon Stone stole the stage
last year when she interrupted a plenary conference on poverty
led by Bill Gates, and began an impromptu
fundraiser to aid malaria victims in Africa that raised $1.4
million in pledges in five minutes.
The Ballroom at The Hotel Belvédère
is the setting for a majority of the grand soirées.
The Reception Ball, hosted by WEF founder
Klaus Schwab, occurs on the first Saturday
evening; and during the week there are galas and charity concerts
nightly, each independently hosted by various nations and
corporations. The most glamorous gala is hosted by the German
publishing magnate Dr. Hubert Burda. The
elite all arrive in limousines, and U2’s Bono
Vox and Lionel Ritchie show the
conservative crowd how to loosen up and cut a rug.
Built as the Grand Hotel in Davos in 1875, the Steigenberger
Hotel Belvédère stands at the pinnacle of luxury
accommodations and is the city’s finest five-star hotel.
Modern elegance combined with Old World notoriety makes the
Belvédère a unique cornerstone in this mountainous
city. The hotel plays a hosting role for the WEF and its prestigious
members, and has made Nike CEO Phil Knight, U.S. Senator
John Kerry and author Paulo Coelho
feel right at home. The magnificent views and the modern wellness
center – featuring steam baths, whirlpools and a team
of masseurs – provide relaxing interludes during busy
weeks in Davos. Nestled among the pines and accessible by
it’s own cog railway, The BergHotel SchatzAlp,
erected in 1899, sits 1,000 vertical feet above the city and
is ideal for the traveler who wants to stay above the beaten
path. The Flüela Hotel, yet another
tradition-laden establishment with a five-star rating, offers
guests more of what has become expected of Davos: luxury,
comfort and access to the alpine outdoors.
The Promenade is the grand boulevard that
connects the two main quarters of the city, Davos-Dorf
and Davos-Platz. The Congress Center
and the luxury hotels are all situated along The Promenade
– as are the shops, bars and cafés. And what
is shopping in Switzerland without the quest for one of the
elegant timepieces that make this country tick! The crème
de la crème are available at the chronometries along
The Promenade. Sharp new models and traditional classics from
Rolex, PatekPhillipe,
Omega and Cartier can be
found at Stäuble, Mommers
and Bucherer. Davos also has its own custom
jewelers, so those seeking one-of-a-kind earrings, pendants
or bracelets will surely find an eye-catcher at Goldschmied
Büttel. Bogner, the high-end
skiwear designer, has a theme shop on The Promenade for après-ski
perfection, as well as hot styles from Elio Fiorucci and traditional
wool designs from Maria di Ripabianca. Boutique
Grischetta offers warm and elegant winter fashions
from Prada and Schumacher,
as well as dazzling accessories by Fabrizio Mancini.
Antique collections, gift shops and a myriad of other unique
boutiques will surely hold offerings for even the most discrete
shopper.
Fine dining is also par for the course after a strenuous day
of winter sports or global politics. True to the grand hotel
traditions of the Old Country, most of the more civilized
eating establishments are located in the grand hotels themselves.
The Belvédère is home to the restaurant Romeo
& Juliet, featuring Northern Italian delicacies
and a wine list that connoisseurs will admire, and the Flüela
houses the Stübli, for traditional French
cuisine. Being a bit adventurous is what mountain life is
all about, and Davos has its share of charming restaurants
for those willing to step out into the night. Le Pot
au Feu is tricky to find, but well worth the effort
– with its delicious assortments of fondues and raclettes.
Bistro Gentiana is a quaint and quiet place,
offering escargots and other Mediterranean favorites. And
Restaurant Parma is the real deal for Italian
cuisine featuring piccatas, organic lasagnas and mouthwatering
fish dishes freshly prepared daily by the acclaimed young
Italian chef, Otavio Ruggiero.
The nightlife in Davos is as legendary as the skiing, and
the good times roll from when the ski-lifts stop running until
the wee hours of the morning. Après-ski is a hit at
the base of the slopes at BolgenPlaza,
with the party moving onward to the CasinoDavos and the Piano Bar
at the Hotel Europe for fine cigars and an
expansive array of whiskeys. There are many bars and pubs
along the way, but the Villa Pallatina and
the Chämi Bar are the hot spots on The
Promenade for live music and late-night clubbing.
The highest city in Europe has set the highest standard in
the Alps. The favorite getaway spot for Albert Einstein, Davos
is still the intelligent choice for a mountain vacation.
Daniel
Caruso is a writer, filmmaker and mountain guide living
in Davos, Switzerland.
