Arcadie Claret

At the table

Expensive Bread and Strict Price Controls

Bread was so central to survival that authorities strictly regulated its price; by 1854, a single one-kilogram loaf of household bread could cost a quarter of a worker's daily wage. Consumption was minimal, with local agencies aiming to provide only one kilogram of bread every two days per person.

What people wore

Feast day footwear with silver buckles

On feast days, women wore shoes adorned with large silver buckles that covered the entire forefoot.

Getting around

Slow but steady horse-drawn barges

Before railways, tow barges drawn by horses were a common way to travel between towns, moving at a steady but slow pace of 3 to 4 km per hour.

What it cost

Cost of a pair of shoes

Shoes were expensive items that could cost a dagloner the equivalent of five days of hard work.

Music

Popularity of social dancing and balls

Social dancing was a popular activity for all levels of society, with balls frequently held in casual settings like barracks to overcome cultural barriers during the military occupation. Popular dances of the time included group dances and pair dances like the waltz, polka, and various forms of contradance.

Daily life

Lighting homes with oil and water carafes

Homes were often illuminated by oil lamps (lamponnette) or candles placed in glass lanterns, while on dark days, workers used a spherical water carafe to concentrate candlelight.