Maria Francisca of Savoy

What people wore

Clothing for feast days vs daily life

Common villagers typically wore the same basic garments daily, while the more prosperous members of the community had specific outfits reserved for Sundays and feast days.

Daily life

Water access and sanitation challenges

Water in cities was often fetched from public wells or carried from the river, and because Seine water was polluted by waste, aqueducts were increasingly used to bring cleaner spring water to public fountains. Modest households managed sanitation manually, often relying on daily routines to dispose of refuse and chamber pots.

Music

Popularity of drinking songs in 17th-century France

Drinking songs, or airs à boire, were a popular form of entertainment enjoyed by diverse social groups in cabarets and taverns. These songs were valued for their accessible melodies and seducing poetic themes, deeply rooted in the culture of intoxication.

At the table

Wine and cider over water

Fermented drinks like wine or cider were preferred over water, which was often considered unhealthy or unsafe to drink. People frequently drank inferior quality wine known as piquette, although better wine could be purchased for popular celebrations for ten sous per pint.

Getting around

Water travel was cheaper and standard

Water travel was common and cheaper than land, with a journey from Paris to Bordeaux taking roughly fifteen days by mid-century.