Catherine of Guise

At the table

Preference for fermented drinks

Because water was considered unhealthy, common people preferred drinking wine, beer, or cider.

What people wore

A 1586 Parisian servant girl's costume

A Parisian servant girl in 1586 wore a blouse with a high collar and a red bodice laced at the front and trimmed with black velvet.

Getting around

Common travel methods in late 16th century

Travelers typically walked, rode horses or mules, or used rare public carriages operated by universities. Roads were often unmaintained and lacked suspension, making travel in heavy carts uncomfortable and slow.

What it cost

Daily wages for laborers

In the period 1571–1575, a laborer earned approximately 5.87 sols tournois per day, while in 1594–1598 the wage was about 6.8 sols tournois per day.

Music

Sounds of daily life and festivals

While church music was restricted, bells rhythmically marked daily life, and loud instruments like oboes and bagpipes were used for village festivals and celebrations.

Daily life

Common dining habits and wine consumption

People generally ate from trenchers—plates made of wood, metal, or bread—as forks were rare in popular classes and only slowly adopted by the nobility. To drink, wine was almost always diluted with water because it was considered too heavy and thick.