Archduke Wilhelm Franz of Austria

At the table

Staple foods of the poor

For the poor, the diet consisted largely of flour-based foods, pulses, and vegetables, with potatoes becoming an increasingly important staple food. Meat was a luxury for common people, typically consumed only on Sundays and holidays.

What people wore

Protecting the Complexion from the Sun

To avoid sunburn and maintain a fashionable pale complexion, ordinary women wore cotton dresses with long sleeves and covered their heads with cloth scarves even in summer. Some added a strip of paper or cardboard to these headscarves to act as a sun visor.

Getting around

Walking and river travel habits

In the early 19th century, people frequently traveled on foot, with messengers and workers walking between 25 and 40 kilometers daily. On the Danube, cargo boats called ordinari took at least a week to travel the 450 kilometers from Regensburg to Vienna.

What it cost

Shrinking portions for ordinary people

In the early 19th century, basic staples like bread and meat became significantly more expensive, and a visual representation of the era showed food portions shrinking drastically over time. In 100 years, the amount of bread one could buy for a fixed price halved, while the amount of beef fell to less than a quarter.

Music

A musician's typical annual work schedule

A local musician named Stelzl kept a ledger showing he was hired to play for dances an average of 14 times per year.

Daily life

Open hearth cooking and no bathrooms

Cooking was done exclusively on an open hearth or fireplace, as kitchen stoves were not yet invented. Families lived without bathrooms, using the stable or the outdoors instead.