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Princess Alix of Luxembourg

Berg Castle, 24 Aug 1929 – Château de Belœil, 11 Feb 2019

7 facts1 source

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 24 Aug 1929

    Born in Berg Castle

  2. 1951–1964

    7 children are born

  3. 11 Feb 2019

    Dies in Château de Belœil, aged 89

During her lifetime

She lived through 10 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Berg Castle.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1920s · Princess is born in Berg Castle

What people wore

Pride in household linens and curtains

Luxembourgish housewives took immense pride in their household linens, often comparing the ornate lace curtains in their windows to delicate personal undergarments.

Getting around

Bus travel to Kirchberg

A private bus service between the railway station and Kirchberg operated twice on weekdays and four times on market days or Sundays, with a journey time of 30 minutes.

What it cost

Price of bread in 1922

In August 1922, the price of a 5-pound loaf of bread was 2.25 francs in Luxembourg City, while it cost 2.10 francs in surrounding areas like Esch-sur-Alzette.

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.Around the world · 1918–1920

The Spanish flu. A flu pandemic infected a third of humanity and killed some 50 million people, more than the war that had just ended.

Otis Historical Archives, National Museum of Health and Medicine · public domain

Music

Wooden rattles replaced church bells during Easter

During Holy Week, when church bells traditionally flew to Rome, children used wooden rattles and drums to announce services, receiving Easter eggs and coins as rewards.

Daily life

Specialized forest schools for children

To combat tuberculosis, some children attended specialized open-air forest schools where they were closely monitored, underwent daily physical examinations, and were overfed five times a day to gain weight. These schools prioritized health and physical strengthening over academic instruction, which was limited to essential subjects.

Work

Struggles with Living Costs

Rising living costs were a major struggle, as seen when residential rents increased from 19 to 22 francs between 1918 and 1919, making it impossible for some families to pay. Conciliation offices were created to manage the resulting disputes between landlords and tenants.