the town

 
Bad Segeberg, which is officially certified as a climatic health resort and spa, is known as the town of the Karl-May-Festival. Situated at the doorstep of the so called "Switzerland of Schleswig-Holstein", it is surrounded by the hilly landscape of forests, bush rows and lakes characteristic of Schleswig-Holstein.

The famous landmark of Bad Segeberg is the "Kalkberg" (limestone hill). From its height of 91 metres, it provides a magnificent view of the town and its green surroundings. At the bottom of the tower, you can visit the only bat adventure park in Europe: Noctalis. It is the visitor’s centre of the limestone caves, the biggest wintering grounds for bats in Germany.


Each year, the Karl-May-Festival is presented at the Kalkberg at one of Europe’s most beautiful open-air theatres.
At the Indian village with the Nebraska house you can visit an exhibition of cultural history about the American Indians and the white pioneers.

Bad Segeberg can look back at 850 years of varied town history. Inspired by a monk named Vicelin, the Emperor Lothar III had the "Siegesburg" built at the top of the Kalkberg in 1134. A church and a monastery were built at its bottom. Today, the Marienkirche is situated there. The oldest building preserved until today is the community centre of old Segeberg which is the home of an interesting folk museum today.

The wood sculptor and painter Otto Flath created impressing works of art in Bad Segeberg. Parts of his artistic work can be seen at the Kunsthalle Otto Flath [/link] today.

The whole year round Bad Segeberg presents a colourful cultural life. During the "Segeberger Sommer" the town is dominated by concerts from classical music to folk music and jazz, by art exhibitions, kid’s theatre and much more. But the cultural highlights are the concerts of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival. In addition to that, Bad Segeberg is widely known as the "rider’s capital" and organizes the Schleswig-Holstein horse show for all the riding clubs.