Princess Clémentine, Princess of Koháry

What people wore

Poverty dictated clothing recycling and repair

Common people relied heavily on second-hand markets and repairing worn garments, as purchasing a complete new outfit was an exceptional financial event. Because laundry was infrequent and clothing was limited, many rural workers appeared in dull, monochromatic outfits, often going barefoot during the warm season.

Getting around

Slow and expensive travel across France

Between 1800 and 1824, land travel was slow and expensive; a journey across France could take 20 to 30 days on foot or by slow carriage. Transporting a ton of goods from Paris to Marseille cost around 250 francs, roughly the annual wage of an unskilled laborer.

At the table

Bread as the Daily Staple

Bread was the essential staple for all social classes, often eaten as soup or with lard, onions, and cheese. It was baked in various qualities, with some large loaves weighing up to twelve pounds.

Music

Village dancing with pipe and tabor

The pipe and tabor were common instruments used for village dances, and travelers often observed young people dancing to this music in meadows or at festivals.

Daily life

Divergent paths for children's schooling

Bourgeois children were taught reading, writing, and sometimes music by their mothers, then sent to primary school at age six. In contrast, rural children often began working in the garden or farmyard at age seven, while poor urban children performed odd jobs like shoe shining or worked in factories.

What it cost

Cost of Necessities

Basic food and clothing prices included bread at 30 centimes, meat at 70 centimes per pound, and a pair of shoes for 5 francs in 1805.