Elisabeth of Lorraine

Getting around

Common travel methods in late 16th century

Travelers typically walked, rode horses or mules, or used rare public carriages operated by universities. Roads were often unmaintained and lacked suspension, making travel in heavy carts uncomfortable and slow.

Daily life

Common dining habits and wine consumption

People generally ate from trenchers—plates made of wood, metal, or bread—as forks were rare in popular classes and only slowly adopted by the nobility. To drink, wine was almost always diluted with water because it was considered too heavy and thick.

What people wore

Wine seller's attire in 1586

A 16th-century French wine seller wore a red-trimmed felt hat and a loose jacket gathered at the waist by a leather belt with a hanging money bag.

Music

Weekly court balls and dances

At the French court under Henry III, balls were held at least twice a week, featuring dances such as the pavane, the dynamic gaillarde, and the volte, where the dancer helped his partner perform an aerial leap.

At the table

Bread and soup were dietary staples

Ordinary families based their daily diet on bread, often eaten as soup by soaking pieces in water or bouillon, alongside cereal porridges or cakes. This was frequently accompanied by a companage, which was a variety of accessible foods like vegetables, legumes, cheese, or eggs.