Elisabeth of Valois

Getting around

Slow and uncomfortable carriage travel

Wheeled carriages were used, though they were often uncomfortable and slow as they lacked advanced suspension systems before the late 16th-century development of swaying carriages.

Daily life

Limited Availability of Primary Schooling

Primary education was rare and highly localized, often funded by individual patrons or local church officials; for instance, a school in Bauzemont was supported by an annual endowment of four résaux of wheat. Instruction was not widespread, and specialized secondary or higher education usually required travel outside the duchy, such as to Paris.

What people wore

Peasant women's head covering

Peasant women in the countryside wore a simple cloth over their heads to protect against bad weather, often folding it to create a hood under the chin.

Music

Festival Wind Music Ensembles

Public and religious festivals featured wind instrument ensembles known as ministriles, who typically played in groups of four to six using instruments like flutes, cornets, and sackbuts.

At the table

Diet of poor vs. wealthy peasants

While wealthier peasants had access to various meats and fruits, poorer families primarily relied on a basic diet of soup, bread, and cheese. They often drank a local beverage known as picotte instead of wine.