Luge as a sport was developed in the Swiss Alps , especially around the resort towns of St. Moritz and Davos in Switzerland in the mid–late 19th century.

Quick Scoop: Where was luge invented?

If you zoom way out, people have been sliding on sleds for thousands of years, from ancient civilizations to medieval Scandinavia. But luge as we know it today —a timed, high‑speed sled race lying on your back—crystalized in Switzerland:

  • In the Swiss Alps , tourists began racing down icy roads and paths near St. Moritz and Davos in the 1800s.
  • A hotel owner in St. Moritz , Caspar Badrutt, helped turn sledding from a casual pastime into an organized winter sport for wealthy visitors.
  • The first international luge race was held in Davos, Switzerland, in 1883 , on a roughly 4 km icy road between Davos and Klosters.

So if you’re asking “where was luge invented?” in the sporting sense, the accepted answer is: it was invented as a sport in the Swiss Alps, centered on St. Moritz and Davos, Switzerland.

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