Johann Nepomuk, 9th Prince of Schwarzenberg

Getting around

Regional coach travel remained slow for years

Before the railway reached Villach, the slow stagecoach between Klagenfurt and Villach took about eight hours to complete the trip.

At the table

Survival diet of poor families

Many poor families survived on dry bread and potatoes, often unable to afford enough meat even for basic hunger. Workers sometimes earned no more than 1 Gulden per day to support their large families.

What people wore

The versatile Gugl shawl and headgear

In winter, women wore a large, triangular wool shawl called a Gugl, which was crossed over the chest and tied at the back because they did not have coats. They also wore this shawl over their heads to protect their face, or inserted cardboard into a colored headscarf to create a sunshade during summer.

Music

Evolution of dance and instrumentation

Dances like the polka, waltz, mazurka, and schottische were increasingly integrated into the repertoire alongside traditional dances, with brass ensembles often replacing older string groups in many performance settings. Although these styles evolved, traditional folk dances remained deeply anchored in daily life and festivals.

Daily life

Transition to Gas and Petroleum Lighting

By the late 1850s, larger cities across the monarchy began installing gas street lighting, while those outside cities relied on petroleum lamps, which provided significantly better light than traditional candles.