Archduchess Helena of Austria-Tuscany

What people wore

Strict social dress codes in Vienna

Prosperous women in Vienna followed strict rules for social success, requiring different outfits for specific daily activities like morning errands, afternoon tea, or exhibition openings.

Getting around

Example travel times and costs in 1902

In 1902, a journey of 157 kilometers from Bremen to Norden took 4 1/4 hours by express train at a cost of 12.70 Marks for first class, while a slower passenger train took 5 1/4 hours. These scheduled services offered passengers predictable and relatively affordable options for traveling between regional towns.

At the table

Ideal middle-class meals and coffee house culture

Before the war, the ideal middle-class meal consisted of a three-course menu featuring soup, a main dish of meat with side dishes, and dessert. Intellectuals frequented coffee houses around 1900 to enjoy coffee drinks like the Melange.

Music

Dominant folk dances in rural Wechsel

In the Wechsel region, the Ländler/Steirer dance was the most common type until World War I, often performed at farmers' festivities or local inns. Music was played on diverse instruments ranging from violins and clarinets to military-style wind instruments.

Daily life

Housing for the poor in Vienna

In 1909, around 66,000 people in Vienna were bed-renters who did not have their own home and paid to use a bed for only a few hours. Many tenement buildings lacked running water, toilets, and electricity, requiring residents to collect water from a corridor tap called a Bassena.

What it cost

Household costs and coffee prices

At the turn of the century, a simple wooden chair cost around 3.75 Mark, which was less than the price of one kilogram of coffee at 4.15 Mark.