Germany
Bad Segeberg is a German town of 16,000 inhabitants, located in the state of Schleswig-Holstein, capital of the district (Kreis) Segeberg. It is situated approximately 50 kilometers northeast of Hamburg, and 25 kilometers west of Lübeck.
It is famous for its annual Karl May Festival. It takes place in the city's Kalkberg Stadium, a large amphitheater originally built by the Reich Labour Service into an exploited quarry at the Kalkberg, a hill in the middle of the town . The 'Karl May Festival' (German: Karl-May-Spiele Bad Segeberg, or Karl-May-Festspiele) is a theatre festival in Bad Segeberg. Since 1952, Karl May's adventure novels about the Wild West have been put on stage as part of Karl May Festival in the amphitheater. Every year, approximately 300,000 spectators visit the theatre play and enjoy the fight of the Indian chief Winnetou and his white friend „Old Shatterhand“ against the evil enemies.
Bad Segeberg is also famous for its scenic views around the three lakes and the river Trave. Many tourists enjoy the sights, visit museums and old buildings in the city centre. One of the most famous buildings in Bad Segeberg is the St. Marien Church, which was built in the 12th century. The town has a long history. The name of the Castle of Victory (German: „Siegesburg“), which was originally situated on the Kalkberg and destroyed in the Middle Ages, is the reason for the name of the town.