Step into early 20th-century Davos and explore the setting that inspired Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain. This unique event interweaves medical history, architecture, and literature, offering a deeper understanding of the era that shaped both the novel and the renowned Alpine health resort.
Program Highlights:
🔹 Guided Tour: Medical Museum Davos – "Women in the Spotlight of Davos Sanatorium History"
Discover the medical challenges of the tuberculosis era and how life "up here" revolved around healing and recovery. This tour traces Davos' rise as Europe's leading high-altitude health resort, with a special focus on the often-overlooked role of women in the sanatoriums’ history.
🔹 Guided Tour: Schatzalp – The Last Preserved Sanatorium
Step inside this Art Nouveau treasure and experience the daily life of former sanatorium guests. This tour blends medical and architectural history, offering exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the former luxury retreat. Learn about the ongoing preservation work undertaken by ETH Zurich at today’s Hotel Schatzalp.
🔹 Lecture: "Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain – Tracing Its Origins in the Archive"
Delve into the holdings of the Thomas Mann Archive at ETH Zurich. While the original manuscript of The Magic Mountain was lost during World War II, the novelist’s handwritten notes and personal library still reveal key insights into the novel’s genesis and legacy.
Immerse yourself in the atmosphere that once inspired Thomas Mann to write his literary masterpiece.
🌿 Extend Your Stay: Participants can book an overnight stay at Hotel Schatzalp at special rates or enhance their visit with a five-course anniversary menu at Restaurant Belle Epoque. Further details will be provided with the booking confirmation.