Davos, where the rich and powerful meet: Some things you probably didn't know about Europe's 'highest' city

Thousands of people descend on Davos, Switzerland each year for the annual World Economic Forum.

This place is already popular, but there are some things you may not have heard before about the tourist town which is officially the highest in Europe, Telegraph reports.

Where and what is Davos?

Davos is located in the canton of Graubünden (also known as the Grisons) in eastern Switzerland.

This area is known for its stunning alpine scenery and as a paradise for winter sports.

It is also the only canton in Switzerland where all three languages ​​are spoken and the only one where Romansh, Switzerland's fourth national language, has official status.

The small town is known for its ski resort, often attracting an affluent clientele to its slopes.

And located at 1560 meters above sea level, it is officially the highest city in Europe.

In addition to its diverse sports and leisure offer, Davos is well known as a meeting place for world experts, powerful business leaders, politicians and the super-rich thanks to its role as host of the World Economic Forum (WEF).

WEF 2023, which ends on Friday 20 January, is attended by around 2,500-3,000 people.

This year there have been speeches from leaders including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Why do the rich and powerful meet there?

This is mainly for organizational reasons dating back to the early days.

Klaus Schwab, the founder of the World Economic Forum and, at the age of 84, still its executive chairman, is of German descent.

But he has Swiss ancestors and has known Davos since childhood. As a 10-year-old, he learned to ski there, Schwab said.

At the founding stage of the Forum, Schwab was a professor of economics at the Center d'Etudes Industrielles in Geneva and was supposed to organize an event for its anniversary in 1971.

His idea was to organize an international meeting of managers, the European Management Symposium, which was the name of the World Economic Forum until 1987.

Davos was chosen as the location because the congress center had opened there shortly before and the city had sufficient hotel capacity.

However, Davos is also valued for its “isolated” location. Moreover, the community is located in the middle of Switzerland, which is considered a neutral country.

Who lives there?

Davos has a permanent population of about 11,000 people located "among the peaks of the Alps".

Those who live there are probably interested in sports, or at least in fresh mountain air.

Ski areas include Jakobshorn, Pischa, Rinerhorn and Parsenn.

Tourism chiefs advise people to hit the slopes when the WEF takes place because they are quieter then.

Meanwhile, summer activities include swimming and sailing in Lake Davos, as well as hiking and mountain biking.

There is also a scenic train ride called the Glacier Express that connects Davos to the Matterhorn.

Davos is also known for its cafés, theatres, concerts, cinemas and lively nightlife. /Telegraph/