Marie Elisabeth Gräfin von Sinzendorf

What people wore

Winter undergarments and petticoats

Women did not wear underpants, relying instead on multiple petticoats to stay warm during winter. Men wore long underpants in the winter that were tied at the belly and ankles.

Daily life

The smoke kitchen as a central hub

Ordinary homes featured a smoke kitchen, a central space where food was cooked over an open fire, often leaving the room blackened by soot. This kitchen served as a cooking and heating area and sometimes even housed poultry at night.

Work

Agricultural life dominated the Habsburg monarchy

Approximately 75 to 80 percent of the population worked in agriculture, which included small farmers, farmhands, and maids who lived in the farmer's household.

Music

Common instruments for rural dance

In 17th-century rural areas, the most common instruments for dance music were the bagpipe, the hurdy-gurdy, and the fiddle.

At the table

Grain Porridges and Legumes Dominated Daily Meals

Most ordinary families relied heavily on a grain-based diet, frequently eating porridges made from oats, barley, or millet, and consuming legumes like peas, beans, and lentils. Meat was rarely eaten, and when served, it was often boiled in soup to make the most of the ingredients.

Getting around

Using horses and carriages for long trips

Travelers often used horses, carriages, or carts, and on long journeys they utilized postal stations located about every 25 kilometers to change horses and find lodging.

What it cost

Price of bread in Vienna

Between 1650 and 1674, the price of bread in Vienna ranged from 1.27 to 2.82 Kreuzer per kilogram.