Émilie Pellapra

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.

What people wore

Political symbols adorned daily attire

Public display of political allegiance became mandatory or prudent through small, inexpensive accessories like the red, white, and blue tricolor cockade. True republicans also wore civic-themed jewelry featuring revolutionary emblems like phrygian caps, sometimes even fashioned into shapes resembling miniature guillotines.

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

The daily struggle for water

Because water was not piped into most homes, families relied on water carriers to bring it from rivers or public fountains, or they had to fetch it themselves from wells. Drinking water was often not potable, so people frequently filtered rainwater or bought bottled mineral water if they were wealthy.