Bad Segeberg is one of the most rewarding day trips in the wider region, because several attractions come together here in a small space. The Kalkberg rises in the middle of town, inside it lies a walk-in cave where tens of thousands of bats hang in winter. Right next to it, the large open-air stage hosts the famous Karl May plays each summer, one of Germany’s best-known open-air theatres. Add a lake and a very old brick church. From our guesthouse in Liesbüttel it is just under an hour’s drive.
Proud town of Bad Segeberg
inhabitants
And rumour has it that in winter more bats hang in the Kalkberg than the town has inhabitants. Here it is actually true: over thirty thousand animals hibernate in the cave. Nobody fancies counting them, though, in the dark and upside down it is hard to keep track.
Bad Segeberg at a glance
- District town of the Segeberg district in Schleswig-Holstein
- Around 18,508 inhabitants, an old brine spa town
- The Kalkberg with its walk-in cave in the middle of town
- A large bat winter roost, plus the Noctalis experience centre
- The Karl May open-air plays, running since 1952
- Just under an hour from Hanerau-Hademarschen, near Neumünster
The Kalkberg and its cave
The Kalkberg rises in the middle of town and is actually made of gypsum rather than limestone, so the name is a little misleading. Today it is around ninety metres high, once much higher until centuries of gypsum mining wore it down. From the top you have a wide view over town and lake. The Siegesburg castle once stood here and gave the town its name.
In the lower part of the hill lies the Segeberg show cave, discovered in 1913 and the only show cave in northern Germany. At a constant ten degrees or so, a path leads through the cool gypsum cave. Important: the cave can only be visited in the summer half-year, roughly April to September; in winter it is reserved for the bats. It is best to check the current times beforehand.
Right beside the winter roost is Noctalis, an experience centre all about bats. Over thirty thousand animals of several species hibernate in the cave, one of the largest and most important bat winter roosts in northern Europe. At the centre you get up close to these fascinating creatures.
The Karl May plays
Bad Segeberg’s best-known feature is probably the Karl May plays. Since 1952, a story based on the novels of Karl May has been staged every summer on the large open-air stage at the Kalkberg, with horses, stunts and well-known leading actors. The stage seats around seven thousand seven hundred spectators and fills up year after year: in good years well over four hundred thousand visitors come in a single season, and since it began the total runs into many millions. Performances take place in the summer months, and the exact dates change from year to year, so it is worth checking the current programme before you plan.
Lake, old town and history
On the edge of town lies the Großer Segeberger See, lovely for a stroll along the shore, for swimming or for a boat trip. The spa house was built on its steep bank as early as 1885, when Bad Segeberg became a brine spa.
St Mary’s church is a Romanesque brick building whose construction began in 1156 with an Augustinian monastery. It is considered one of the earliest brick churches in northern Germany and holds a valuable carved altar from the 16th century.
On Lübecker Straße stands the oldest surviving house in town, from 1541, now set up as the town museum. A vivid glimpse into old Segeberg.
History
The history of Bad Segeberg begins on the Kalkberg: in 1134 Emperor Lothair III had the Siegesburg castle built there, and the town’s name derives from it. Church and monastery followed in 1156. For centuries the mining of gypsum and salt shaped the place. In 1868 rock salt was even struck beneath the Kalkberg, which could not be mined because of water ingress, but whose escaping brine later gave rise to the spa business. From 1884 Segeberg developed into a brine spa, and in 1924 the town was officially allowed to call itself a spa town. Gypsum mining ended in 1931, the open-air stage was built in the old quarry in the 1930s, and the Karl May plays have run there since 1952.
Worthwhile destinations nearby
The largest town in the area with a designer outlet, a zoo and a museum, conveniently on the way between our guesthouse and Bad Segeberg. All on our own place page.
The quiet neighbouring village of our guesthouse, with traces of Theodor Storm, the Hanerau estate and a working watermill.
The canal town with its high bridge, transporter bridge and canal tunnel, a technical highlight on the Kiel Canal.
Around our guesthouse lie the canal villages with their ferries and big ships, a lovely contrast to the bustle of the Karl May plays.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bad Segeberg?
What can you see in Bad Segeberg?
What is the Kalkberg?
Can you visit the Kalkberg cave?
How many bats hibernate in the cave?
What is Noctalis?
What are the Karl May plays?
When do the Karl May plays take place?
How many spectators does the open-air stage hold?
Should you book tickets for the Karl May plays in advance?
Can you swim in the Großer Segeberger See?
What is the story of St Mary’s church?
Why is the town called Bad Segeberg?
Where does the name Segeberg come from?
How do I get to Bad Segeberg?
How far is Bad Segeberg from Neumünster?
Is Bad Segeberg suitable for children?
Is Bad Segeberg worth a whole day?
What can you do in Bad Segeberg when it rains?
Can you climb the Kalkberg?
Is Bad Segeberg worth a visit with a dog?
Can you see the bats all year round?
What can you do around Bad Segeberg?
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Stay quietly, explore with a thrill
Would you like to experience the cave, the bats and the Karl May plays and return to the quiet countryside in the evening? Our guesthouse in Liesbüttel is just under an hour away, with a hearty breakfast and first-hand tips.
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