Marie Eleonore Windisch-Graetz

What people wore

Village wedding coats were shared assets

A high-quality blue, green, or black cloth coat worn by wealthy farmers for weddings was often passed down through generations and borrowed by entire villages for festivities.

Getting around

The dangers of carriage travel

Carriage passengers frequently faced a difficult choice between the risk of being bruised inside the vehicle or spraining an ankle while walking alongside it on poor roads.

At the table

Common diet of staple crops

Ordinary families primarily relied on staple foods like legumes, cabbage, potatoes, and cereals prepared as gruels or mashes. Black bread was a fundamental component of the daily diet.

Music

Widespread musical education in villages

During the 18th century, children in Bohemian villages learned to play instruments like violins, hautbois, and bassoons in school, making music a widespread skill for ordinary people.

Daily life

Inexpensive wooden torchlight illumination

To save money on expensive candles, families used simple wooden torchlights that burned for about ten minutes and were held over a water vessel for safety.

What it cost

Cost of basic clothing items

A pair of shoes typically cost about 1 golden, while a winter fur coat could cost between 3 and 15 goldens.