Altenburg, District capital in Thuringia, Germany
Altenburg is a district capital in Thuringia that lies along the Pleiße river at roughly 200 meters (650 feet) elevation. The upper town is dominated by a medieval castle, while the lower town features historic streets and facades from the 19th century.
The settlement gained importance when Emperor Frederick Barbarossa held imperial diets here several times between 1165 and 1188. In the 19th century, the town developed into a center for playing card manufacturing in Germany.
The town gave its name to the German card game Skat, which was developed here in the early 19th century and is still celebrated in the local playing card museum. Many buildings in the center date from the late 19th century, shaping the appearance of the streets with their Gründerzeit facades.
The town is well connected by bus from Leipzig, Dresden, and Erfurt, making it easy to visit as a day trip. The historic core can be explored on foot, as the main sights are within walking distance of each other.
The German Skat Court is based here and rules on disputed questions about the game regulations. The Lindenau Museum houses one of the largest collections of Italian panel painting outside Italy.
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