Princess Françoise of Orléans

What people wore

Working men adopted trousers for freedom

Working-class men transitioned from traditional knee breeches to loose-fitting trousers, known as pantalon, to allow for greater freedom of movement during manual labor. This style, paired with a short jacket called a carmagnole and wooden clogs (sabots), became a symbolic badge of revolutionary identity.

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

Common Drinks: Wine and Beer

Wine was the most common drink, often cut with water to improve its taste because well water was frequently contaminated. Beer also gained popularity in various regions, and in some areas, was even favored over wine.

Music

Handwritten dance music manuscripts for families

Young people in wealthy families kept handwritten manuscript books of dances, such as quadrilles, waltzes, and bourrées, to enjoy and practice during leisure time.

Daily life

Modest homes and simple furnishings

Most rural families lived in modest homes of two to three rooms, often sleeping in a single bed. In cities, apartments were larger, featuring parquet floors, wallpaper, and window drapes for those who could afford them.

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.