Élisabeth Thérèse of Lorraine

At the table

Meat and Drink Habits of Families

Ordinary families rarely ate fresh meat and instead relied on salted pork to flavor their vegetable soups. Drinking water was often considered unsafe, so people frequently consumed piquette, a thin beverage made from the remnants of grapes or fruit, or local cider.

What people wore

Sunday best for villagers

Ordinary villagers often wore the same daily clothes, while the wealthier among them changed into better garments specifically for Sundays and feast days.

Getting around

Long travel times between cities

Travel between major French cities was slow; for example, the journey from Bordeaux to Paris took fifteen days in 1660.

What it cost

Cost of pigs and wood in 17th century

In the 17th century, a single pig could cost approximately 24 livres, while a cart of wood was valued at 11 livres.

Music

Street music and peasant dances

Street singers adapted popular court and opera melodies for public performance, while rural peasants often danced to the pipe and tabor during Sunday rest. Officials sometimes defended these peasant dances as innocent amusement after a week of hard labor.

Daily life

Water meant trips to sources

In Paris, water was commonly hauled or bought, and shared stairwells/courtyards were practical places for water carrying, storage, and laundry.