Marie Léopoldine d'Orléans

Getting around

Rise of railway travel speed

In 1848, trains could cover 30 km per hour, twice the average speed of a stagecoach, which traveled about 15 km per hour. Early railway passengers often needed to bring portable candlesticks to read because lighting was deficient.

Daily life

Cramped and dark living conditions

Ordinary urban homes were often cramped and poorly ventilated, with many workers living in simple apartments of one or two rooms, while some lived in communal boarding houses where rooms were shared dormitory-style. Interior spaces were frequently dark and smoky, as homes relied on open hearths for both heating and cooking, and floors were often made of packed earth rather than wood.

What people wore

Working class clothing and footwear

In the early nineteenth century, industrial workers typically wore plain working clothes, often paired with wooden-soled clogs, while many urban poor wore rags.

Music

Violin music at village festivals

The violin was a vital instrument for rural dances and village festivals, though local authorities sometimes tried to ban its use due to the disorder caused at these gatherings.

At the table

Diluted beverages were common for families

Working families frequently drank beer mixed with water, wine, or blackcurrant juice, especially when visiting guinguettes on Sundays.