Rudolf von Sinzendorf

At the table

Simple diet of the common people

Ordinary families typically relied on simple fare such as porridges made from oats, barley, or legumes, while meat was a rare luxury reserved for special occasions.

What people wore

Exclusive aristocratic symbols

Wearing the color red or sporting a feather on a hat were considered highly elitist practices reserved for the aristocracy and prohibited for the rural population.

Getting around

Typical travel times and rest points.

A 115-kilometer journey between St. Pölten and St. Florian typically required 20 to 28 hours. Travelers often stayed at posting stations located about every 25 kilometers to rest and change horses.

What it cost

Mercenary wages and food prices

A mercenary's monthly wage was 4 Gulden, which had to cover food and equipment for himself and his family. A pound of bacon cost 6 Kreuzer, while a pound of butter cost 1 Batzen.

Music

Musical instruments at noble gatherings

At social gatherings of the nobility, people entertained themselves by dancing, playing games, and performing music on pairs of instruments such as the lute and viol, or cornetto and drum.

Daily life

Traditional open-fire smoke kitchens

In the 17th century, kitchens featured open fire pits where smoke blackened the room; food was prepared in iron or brass pots suspended over the fire using a metal support called a Drudenfuß.