150 years of Thomas Mann
Davos celebrates the birthday of "The Magic Mountain" author
150 years of Thomas Mann
2025 marks the 150th anniversary of Thomas Mann's birth. Davos will celebrate this special anniversary with a year-long program of events. In 2024, the focus was on the 100th anniversary of his novel "The Magic Mountain." Now, the celebrations will focus on the author's life and work. Numerous events will take place on the Schatzalp and at the Waldhotel – places closely linked to his history.
Thomas Mann, born on June 6, 1875, is one of the most important writers of the 20th century. Although the famous German author died in 1955, his legacy lives on in Davos and in the cultural and literary scene. His stay in Davos and the experiences of his wife Katia, who was a patient at the former Waldsanatorium (now the Waldhotel), inspired him to write "The Magic Mountain" – a novel that lent Davos literary significance.
Event highlights: Costume ball on the Schatzalp and selfie wall
With a costume and masked ball on June 7th on the Schatzalp, the period in which "The Magic Mountain" was created will come alive at the original location. Guests are invited to dress up in costumes from the elegant 1920s and immerse themselves in the era of the novel. Those who want to immerse themselves in the era of Thomas Mann for just a brief moment can visit the Selfie Wall. Visitors can dress up in accessories from the era and have their photo taken with the author. The Selfie Wall will be at Heimatmuseum until the beginning of June, after which it can be found at other locations and events commemorating Thomas Mann.
Events in honor of the author
With books such as "Buddenbrooks," "The Magic Mountain," and "Doctor Faustus," he shaped world literature and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1929. Thomas Mann's legacy is celebrated with numerous events. Readings, exhibitions, and discussions shed light on his life and work are scheduled at the Schatzalp, the Waldhotel, the Davos Cultural Center, and other cultural institutions. With two focal points, "100 Years of The Magic Mountain" in autumn 2024 and "150 Years of Thomas Mann" in spring and summer 2025, Davos will be the center of remembrance for one of the greatest authors of his time for an entire year.
Thomas Mann and “The Magic Mountain”
In 1912, Thomas Mann first came to Davos, where his wife Katia was being treated for tuberculosis at the Waldsanatorium (now the Waldhotel). He thus experienced the spa treatments at Schatzalp and the Waldsanatorium firsthand. Inspired by the place and its atmosphere, the future Nobel Prize winner published "The Magic Mountain" in 1924, which is considered a masterpiece of the 20th century. Although it was initially met with criticism, "The Magic Mountain" is now a novel that has become an integral part of international literary art. "The Magic Mountain" not only made Davos an even more famous resort, but also a place of literary significance with a reach beyond the German-speaking world.
