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What people wore

Standard Men's Attire

In the late 17th century, ordinary men wore a three-piece suit consisting of a justaucorps (coat), veste (vest), and culotte (breeches), often made from simple, durable wool fabrics.

Daily life

Demanding daily household labor

Water had to be hauled manually from fountains or courtyards, and heating required constant manual labor to manage wood, fire, and ash disposal.

Work

The typical daily work schedule

The working day typically began at sunrise and could last between 8 to 14 hours depending on the season, with significant breaks allowed for meals. Workers often relied on the sound of church bells or horns to signal the start and end of their labor shifts.

Music

Sunday Dancing and the Pipe and Tabor

In the late 17th century, peasants often enjoyed dancing to the pipe and tabor on the Sabbath, an amusement that was sometimes tolerated by church officials as a necessary relief from a week of hard labor.

At the table

Daily Bread Consumption Requirements

To meet daily calorie needs, men typically consumed three pounds of bread per day, while women consumed two pounds and children one pound.

Getting around

Barque de poste canal travel

In 1674, the barque de poste service was introduced, allowing passengers to travel from Toulouse to Castelnaudary in one day. The journey included scheduled stops for meals and overnight rests.

What it cost

Medical treatment cost versus cutlery price

A medical enema in the 17th century cost 15 sous, which was the same price as a gross of small whistle knives.