In the news1625
Plague epidemic in Lublin
In 1625, an epidemic of plague broke out in Lublin, causing significant mortality among the city's inhabitants.
Zamość, 27 Apr 1623 – Zamość, 17 Apr 1672
7 facts2 sources
27 Apr 1623
Born in Zamość
31 May 1640
A son is born
17 Apr 1672
Dies in Zamość, aged 48
She lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Zamość.
General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.
In the news1625
In 1625, an epidemic of plague broke out in Lublin, causing significant mortality among the city's inhabitants.
At the table
Staple diet of ordinary families
Rye bread, groats, and peas formed the staple diet of ordinary households, often supplemented by dairy, fat, and vegetables from home gardens.
What people wore
Expensive żupan costs for wealthy burghers
Wealthy townspeople owned multiple żupans, often valued between 20 and 50 złotys, with the most expensive pieces reaching up to 300 złotys.
Getting around
Common travel methods and daily speeds
Ordinary people traveled mainly on foot, covering 20–25 km per day, or by horse-drawn carts at 25–30 km per day. Noblemen typically traveled on horseback to show their status, achieving 30–40 km per day.
What it cost
Cost of Bread and Shoes
Basic items were affordable: bread cost less than one grosz, and a pair of shoes ranged from 9 to 24 grosze in the 17th century. In 1671, the price of a pair of shoes reached 19.1 grosze.
Music
Bagpipes at local inns and festivals
Bagpipe music was a staple of everyday life, frequently accompanying dancing at weddings and parties in both city and country inns.
Daily life
Cooking methods and food preservation
Cooking was a labor-intensive task using pots with three legs placed over fires or suspended cauldrons, while salt was a vital commodity for preserving meat and fish stored in barrels. Households often relied on hand mills to grind their own grain between stones to prepare bread and dishes.