Maria Antonia of Austria

At the table

Common Drinks: Vinegar Water and Dark Beer

While beer was a standard staple for many, poor women who could not afford wine or other drinks often relied on water mixed with vinegar for hydration. When available, beer was typically top-fermented, dark, and lower in alcohol content than modern varieties.

What people wore

Winter undergarments and petticoats

Women did not wear underpants, relying instead on multiple petticoats to stay warm during winter. Men wore long underpants in the winter that were tied at the belly and ankles.

Getting around

Travel times between towns

A journey of 30 kilometers between St. Pölten and Melk typically took 5 to 7 hours under good weather conditions.

What it cost

Price of bread in Vienna

Between 1650 and 1674, the price of bread in Vienna ranged from 1.27 to 2.82 Kreuzer per kilogram.

Music

Authorities banned music during crises

Music performances were frequently forbidden by authorities during times of crisis, such as the appearance of a comet in 1681 or during the Turkish wars of 1605.

Daily life

The smoke kitchen as a central hub

Ordinary homes featured a smoke kitchen, a central space where food was cooked over an open fire, often leaving the room blackened by soot. This kitchen served as a cooking and heating area and sometimes even housed poultry at night.