Bad Segeberg, District capital and spa town in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany
Bad Segeberg is a district capital and spa town in Schleswig-Holstein, located roughly 50 kilometers northeast of Hamburg. The Kalkberg limestone formation shapes the townscape and the Großer Segeberger See stretches along the eastern edge of the settlement.
Segeberg Castle was built on the Kalkberg in 1134 and turned the settlement into an administrative center for the region. In 1924 the town received spa status and grew into a recognized health resort with thermal facilities.
The Karl May Festival transforms the limestone quarry walls into a summer theatre stage for Western tales. Visitors sit in the grandstand and watch horseback performances with cowboy and Native American characters against the natural rock backdrop.
The spa quarter sits near the town center and is easy to reach on foot, with signposts pointing toward the thermal baths and clinics. The Kalkberg on the western edge offers walking trails and a viewpoint over the surroundings.
Beneath the Kalkberg lie the largest gypsum caves in Germany, formed by the dissolving of rock underground. Most sections remain closed because of collapse risk, but bats still use them as winter shelter.
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