Aisterham: Historic Farmsteads and Local History

Two different perspectives can help you get your bearings: the chronological sequence of historical events and the specific features of the farmsteads. This can help you decide whether you are more interested in the history of the village or its documented architecture.

Aisterham in Historical Records

A deed of sale from 1423 listed two farmsteads in Aisterham as part of the Haidenburg lordship. In 1461, Count Georg III of Ortenburg acquired some rents from Aisterham. On 3 June 1484, the name form Aystershaim appears in connection with tithes in the Haidenburg lordship. Around 1612, a tax register of the Haidenburg lordship recorded four properties in Aisterham as belonging to the lordship.

These dates refer to different events: 1423 concerns two farmsteads, 1461 concerns rents, 1484 concerns tithes, and around 1612 concerns four properties listed in a tax register. The figures two and four therefore refer to different years and contexts; they do not directly count a change. Taken together, the events place Aisterham within different systems of lordship and dues over several centuries.

Farmsteads and Building Styles

Aisterham 2 is the residential building of a former four-sided farmstead. The house dates from the 18th or 19th century and is listed in the Bavarian list of monuments as of 21 February 2026. Aisterham 3 is a four-sided farmstead dating from the 18th or 19th century and is also listed there. The descriptions clearly distinguish the two entries: Aisterham 2 focuses on the residential building of a former farmstead, while Aisterham 3 refers to the four-sided farmstead itself.

A 2023 published image description of the four-sided farmstead at Aisterham 3 mentions a drive-through barn with a timber-framed plinth, a central threshing floor and a steeply pitched roof. The farmstead also includes a grain store built using block construction, with a gabled roof and projecting eaves above the cart shed and stable. These features offer specific points of comparison: the barn description covers its plinth, threshing floor and roof shape, while the grain store is described in terms of its construction, roof shape and structural relationship to the cart shed and stable. This makes it possible to understand the farmstead through several distinct building features, not just its date.

The Aisterham Neustift Chapel is also associated with a specific address: Aisterham 4, 94496 Ortenburg. As a separately named point of interest, it adds a religious dimension to the history of the farmsteads. If you are organizing your trip by theme, you can consider the chapel as a separate aspect alongside the historic farmsteads.

Ortenburg as an Additional Travel Destination

In the wider destination of Ortenburg, the Ortenburg Jousting Tournament takes place every year at the foot of Ortenburg Castle. The program includes jousting, a historic market, traditional craft workshops, a living history camp and birds of prey displays. If you would like to plan your stay around the event, check the current dates in advance.

In the wider destination of Ortenburg, you can also explore the Ortenburg Castle Wildlife Park along well-maintained paths. The paths wind through a park covering around 25 hectares, with numerous animal enclosures and aviaries. It is open daily from 09:00 to 17:30 and closes at 19:00. As opening hours may change, check the operator’s latest information before your visit.

When looking for a hotel, you can weigh these themes separately: here, Aisterham represents farmstead architecture and local history; the jousting tournament and wildlife park are attractions in the wider destination of Ortenburg. Which focus best suits your trip depends on whether you want to prioritize the historic farmsteads or one of the additional attractions.

For the wider travel overview: Ortenburg.