Archduke Leopold Joseph of Austria

What people wore

Tyrolean leather breeches and secure belts

In Tyrol, men's leather breeches became a regional signature, often colored black, and were secured with wide belts called Bauchranzen used to carry money safely.

Getting around

Travel times by carriage in the 1700s

In the 18th century, a 30-kilometer trip between St. Pölten and Melk took 5 to 7 hours, while a 115-kilometer journey to St. Florian took 20 to 28 hours.

At the table

Simple diets of ordinary families

Ordinary families ate very sparingly, relying on flour-based dishes, pulses like peas, beans, and lentils, and various porridges made from millet, oats, or barley. Meat was rarely served on their tables.

Music

Rural children were musically literate and skilled

In 18th-century Bohemia, Moravia, and Austria, children in rural schools were taught to play instruments like violins, hautbois, and bassoons, resulting in a musically literate population. Even in the smallest villages, peasants sang and played various instruments during High Mass.

Daily life

Home life and shared spaces

Common households relied on simple tiled stoves for heat and cooking, while tasks like laundry, wood storage, and waste management were shared in communal courtyards. Indoor light was scarce, often relying on the limited daylight filtered through small windows and basic lamps.

What it cost

Daily wages for laborers

In the late 17th century, day laborers earned about 6 kreuzer for women and up to 18 kreuzer for some skilled laborers like carpenters.