05/04/2025
Whoever invented soap back then must've been fed up 😂😂😂😂
"Between 1600 and 1700, when visiting the Palace of Versailles in Paris, you can note that, despite its magnificence, the palace had no bathrooms.
In the Middle Ages there were no toothbrushes, deodorants, perfumes and much less toilet paper. Human excrements were thrown directly out the windows of the building.
During the holidays, Versailles kitchens prepared banquets for 1,500 people without the minimum standard of hygiene.
In modern depictions, we often see characters of the time fanning, but the reason was not the heat: a strong smell spread under the skirts of women, as there was no real intimate hygiene. Showers were rare due to the cold and the near-total absence of running water.
Only the nobles could count on servants to fan them, both to dispel bad odors of body and breath and to keep insects away.
Today, visitors to Versailles admire the magnificent gardens, but during the monarchy they were also used as bathrooms during the famous court parties, as there were no bathrooms available.
In the Middle Ages, most marriages took place in June, the beginning of summer. The reason? First bath of the year was taken in May, so in June the smell was still bearable. However, to conceal any bad odor, brides wore bouquets of flowers next to their bodies, hence the tradition of the bridal bouquet.
Baths were taken in a large tub filled with hot water. The head of the family had the privilege of diving first, followed by the other family members in age order. The newborns were the last ones, and the water was so dirty it could become lethal to them.
The roofs of houses often had no interior cladding, with wooden beams that served as a shelter for animals such as dogs, cats, rats and cockroaches. When it rained and the roof had leaks, these animals jumped to the ground.
Those who could afford it used tin plates, but some foods, like tomato, rusted the material, causing fatal poisoning. For years, toma
