Anna Maria, Gräfin von Ortenburg

At the table

Beer as a daily necessity

Water was rarely drunk because it was often unsanitary, so people consumed diluted, low-alcohol beer as a primary beverage, even giving it to children. Weak beer, sometimes called patoky, also served as a nutritious, energy-providing soup ingredient for the lower classes.

What people wore

Clothing as a valuable, shared asset

Clothing was a long-term investment that was rarely discarded, often circulating through society via pawning, inheritance, auctions, and second-hand markets. To keep garments clean, peasant women wore functional aprons, often nearly as wide as the skirt itself.

Getting around

River transport speeds and challenges

While river travel was faster, reaching up to 150 km per day downstream, upstream travel was difficult and slow, often requiring boats to be towed by animals or people at speeds of no more than 25 km per day.

What it cost

Daily wages for laborers in 1547

In 1547, a common laborer, such as a harvester or mason, typically earned between 5 white pennies and 2 Czech groschen per day, depending on the season and task, and was often provided with meals.

Music

Role of school choirs

Schoolboys from parish churches were a staple of musical life, frequently performing polyphonic compositions for both religious and public state occasions.

Daily life

Water Access and Daily Chores

Domestic life relied on shared public infrastructure such as communal wells, riverbanks, and market squares to access water. Inside the house, tasks like carrying water, washing, and tending to stoves were time-consuming daily chores.