Thomas Mann’s “The Magic Mountain” is set in this town that in 1971 hosted the first what was then the European Management Symposium
The Final Jeopardy clue for Friday, February 20, 2026 came from the category “Europe” and linked literature with modern economic history. Contestants were asked to identify the town where Thomas Mann set The Magic Mountain and which, in 1971, hosted the first event then known as the European Management Symposium. The clue required both cultural and institutional knowledge, connecting early twentieth century fiction with a late twentieth century gathering that would grow into a major international organization.
What is Davos?
Davos is a mountain resort town in the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It is internationally recognized today as the home of the World Economic Forum, but its prominence long predates that role. In literature, Davos is the setting of The Magic Mountain, the 1924 novel by Thomas Mann. In global affairs, it is known for hosting the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, which began as the European Management Symposium in 1971.
The dual reference in the clue reflects Davos’s evolution. At the turn of the twentieth century, the town was renowned as a health resort specializing in the treatment of tuberculosis. By the late twentieth century, it had transformed into a center of international dialogue, drawing political leaders, executives, academics, and civil society representatives from around the world.
Davos and The Magic Mountain
Published in 1924, The Magic Mountain is widely regarded as one of the most significant works of twentieth century European literature. The novel follows Hans Castorp, a young German engineer who visits a tuberculosis sanatorium in Davos and becomes immersed in a world of intellectual debate and philosophical reflection. The setting is not incidental. Davos’s reputation as a high-altitude health retreat provided the ideal backdrop for Mann’s exploration of time, illness, and European society on the eve of the First World War.
Mann himself was familiar with Davos. His wife, Katia Mann, underwent treatment in a sanatorium there, and his visits informed the detailed depiction of life in the mountain retreat. The novel’s atmosphere of isolation and introspection mirrors the physical and psychological environment associated with alpine sanatoria in the early 1900s. Through this literary association, Davos became permanently linked with one of Europe’s most enduring modern novels.
From European Management Symposium to World Economic Forum
In 1971, Davos hosted the first European Management Symposium, an initiative founded by German economist Klaus Schwab. The initial meeting brought together European business leaders to discuss management practices and competitiveness in a changing global economy. At that time, the gathering was focused primarily on corporate governance and strategy within Europe.
The symposium later evolved into the World Economic Forum, expanding its scope beyond Europe and beyond business management. The organization became a platform for dialogue among political leaders, international organizations, and industry figures. The annual meeting in Davos now addresses issues ranging from economic development to climate change and geopolitical stability. What began as a regional management conference grew into one of the most visible forums for international policy discussion.
Why Davos Fits the Clue
The Final Jeopardy clue required identifying a single European town that bridges two distinct spheres: high modernist literature and contemporary global economics. Davos uniquely satisfies both elements. It is inseparable from The Magic Mountain, a defining work of European fiction, and it is equally inseparable from the origins of the World Economic Forum.
The specificity of the 1971 reference to the European Management Symposium narrows the answer decisively. While many European cities host major conferences, only Davos is directly tied to both Mann’s novel and the founding event that became the World Economic Forum. The clue therefore rewarded contestants who could connect cultural history with institutional development, demonstrating a breadth of knowledge about Europe’s intellectual and political landscape.