Anne of Austria, Queen of Poland

Getting around

Slow daily travel for stage coaches

Stage coaches in the late 16th century traveled only about 37 kilometers on average per day due to poor roads and the varying widths of wheel tracks.

Daily life

Heated living spaces with limited light

The Stube was the only heated room in many homes, featuring small windows that limited light and a stove often fueled from outside to prevent smoke.

What people wore

Common citizens limited to serviceable fabrics

Under the 1530 Augsburg dress code, which influenced regional standards, common citizens were forbidden from using costly materials like gold, silver, pearls, velvet, or silk.

Music

Boisterous folk-style dancing at festivals

During feast days and festivals, dances often included boisterous styles like the branle, which involved circles or lines of people jumping and kicking until the musician was exhausted.

At the table

Beverages and Fasting Rules

Commoners frequently drank beer, which was often brewed locally by inns or breweries and was typically darker and lower in alcohol than modern beer. During fast days, which could number up to 150 annually, consumption of meat was restricted, leading to a reliance on fish, vegetables like cabbage and turnips, and legumes.