Berghotel Schatzalp was built between 1898 and 1900 as a sanatorium and was one of the inspirations for Thomas Mann's Novel "Der Zauberberg". Since 1954, it is a hotel with 92 rooms are spread across three floors.
The luxury sanatorium was build on an artificial plateau to plans by Zurich architects Otto Pfleghard and Max Haefeli. Located at 1900 meters above sea level, it was inaugurated on December 21st, 1900. It was one of the first reinforced concrete buildings in Graubünden and featured many modern technologies such as floor heating, an elevator and a mail and telegraph room. All rooms on the sunny, south side of building, had balconies.
Some of the hotel's facades feature traditional sgraffiti decorations. The ground floor is used by the reception, lobby, dining room with Art Nouveau decorations and the X-Ray Bar.
The X-Ray bar is named after its location in the former X-Ray room of the sanatorium.
The beautiful staircase connecting the different floors has the elevator at its center.