Altenburger Land

Altenburger Land is an administrative district in eastern Thuringia, featuring gently rolling farmland intersected by the Pleiße River running north to south. The landscape is dominated by agricultural fields, pastures, and scattered villages, with Altenburg as the main town.

The region developed from early settlements into the Duchy of Saxe-Altenburg, which existed from 1826 to 1918 as an independent political entity. It became part of Thuringia in 1922 following German political reorganization.

The district capital Altenburg maintains ties to card games and playing card manufacturing, which shaped the city's identity for centuries. This tradition remains visible today through local institutions and the way residents take pride in this heritage.

The district sits roughly 50 kilometers from Leipzig and Chemnitz and is accessible by road and rail connections. Visitors will find rural accommodation and dining options scattered throughout, with Altenburg offering the most services as the main hub.

The district's coat of arms combines a red rose and lion with additional heraldic symbols that reflect centuries of local rule and territorial changes. These emblems serve as visual reminders of the region's complex political past and overlapping influences.

Location: Thuringia

Capital city: Altenburg

Elevation above the sea: 236 m

Shares border with: Landkreis Leipzig, Mittelsachsen, Zwickau, Greiz, Burgenlandkreis

Phone: +4934475860

Website: https://altenburgerland.de

GPS coordinates: 51.00000,12.41667

Latest update: December 20, 2025 16:18