Prince Ludwig of Saxe-Coburg-Kohary

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

Staple foods of the population

Potatoes were a staple food that helped save the population from famine, and wheat bread had become the dominant bread type in Vienna by mid-century.

What people wore

Swaddling practices and constant headwear use

Infants were placed in swaddling cushions for several months to ensure they grew straight, and male toddlers were dressed in dresses just like girls. Adults of both genders kept their headwear on all day, even while eating meals at the table.

Music

Rural music instruments in Voralpen

In rural areas near the Semmering and Wechsel regions, music was often performed using the zither and the hammered dulcimer (Hackbrett). This contrasted with urban areas where violin and harp combinations were more common in taverns.

Daily life

Shared water taps in Vienna apartment buildings

In urban Vienna, many apartments lacked private water or toilets, requiring residents to fetch water from a shared tap in the corridor called a bassena.