Altenburg: the German home of playing cards

Historic German capital of playing card production, Altenburg holds a museum dedicated to the famous Skat card game, born right in the city.

The center, German homeland of playing cards, is visited comfortably on foot.

The Playing Cards Museum of Altenburg displays centuries of historic card decks, recounting the birth of the Skat game, invented in the city in the nineteenth century.

A short walk away, Altenburg Castle, residence of Saxon dukes, dominates the historic center from a hilltop with its imposing medieval tower.

Continuing toward the center, one walks among the half-timbered houses of the historic center, well preserved despite centuries of urban transformations.

Toward evening, local Skat circles animate traditional games according to rules handed down by generations of German players.

Skat, the card game invented in Altenburg in the nineteenth century, remains Germany's most popular card game today, with official tournaments, dedicated national federations, and active clubs in every city.

Altenburg produced playing card decks for centuries, exporting them throughout Europe, an industry that made the city a uniquely specialized manufacturing center recognized well beyond German borders.