Victoria of Valois

At the table

Wine was preferred over water

Because water was considered unhealthy, most people drank fermented beverages like wine, which was often diluted with water. Women were expected to drink less alcohol than men, and their consumption of wine was sometimes cut heavily with water to prevent intoxication.

What people wore

Wine seller's attire in 1586

A 16th-century French wine seller wore a red-trimmed felt hat and a loose jacket gathered at the waist by a leather belt with a hanging money bag.

Getting around

Coaches were extremely rare in 1550

In 1550, there were only three enclosed and suspended coaches in all of Paris, one of which belonged to the Queen of Francis I.

What it cost

Meat prices in 1550

In 1550, a pound of beef cost 8 deniers tournois, while a pound of pork cost 10 deniers tournois.

Music

Rise of amateur home music

While professional musicians were hired for major events, amateur music-making at home became popular among the nobility and bourgeoisie, supported by the growth of music publishing and the use of tablatures.

Daily life

Segregated elementary schooling

While private tutors served noble families, elementary schools for others were church-run and segregated by gender; a 1554 decree specifically prohibited boys and girls from studying together.