In the Middle Ages, there were no toothbrushes, perfumes, deodorants, and much less toilet paper. Human excrements were thrown out of palace windows. On a holiday, the palace kitchen was able to prepare a feast for 1500 people, without the minimum hygiene.
The explanation is not in the heat, but in the foul odor emitted under the skirts. It was also not customary to shower due to the cold and the almost non-existence of running water. Only the nobles had lackeys to fan them, to dispel the bad odor that exhalated the body and mouth, as well as to scare away the insects.
Those who have been to Versailles have admired the huge and beautiful gardens that, at that time, were not only contemplated, but used as a toilet in the famous ballads promoted by the monarchy, because there were no bathrooms. In the Middle Ages, most weddings took place in June. The reason is simple: the first bath of the year was taken in May; so, in June, the smell of people was still tolerable.
However, as some odors were already beginning to bother, the brides carried bouquets of flowers near their bodies to cover the odor. Hence the explanation of the origin of the bridal bouquet. The baths were taken in a single massive tub filled with hot water.
The head of the family had the privilege of the first swim in clean water. Then, without changing the water, the others arrived in the house, in order of age, women, also by age and finally, children.
The babies were the last ones to bathe.
During the 1600s and 1700s, the Palace of Versailles, like many other European royal residences, did not have modern bathrooms or sanitation facilities.
1. No bathrooms: The Palace of Versailles, built during the reign of Louis XIV (1638-1715), did not have dedicated bathrooms. Instead, chamber pots and commodes were used in private quarters.
2. Medieval hygiene: During the Middle Ages, personal hygiene was not a priority. Toothbrushes, perfumes, deodorants, and toilet paper were not widely used or available.
3. Waste disposal: Human waste was often disposed of by throwing it out of windows or into streets, a practice known as "chamber pot emptying." This was common in many European cities, including Paris.
4. Palace specifics: Versailles had some primitive sanitation facilities, like latrines and cesspits, but they were not connected to a modern sewage system. Waste was often collected in cesspits and emptied manually.
5. Royal exceptions: Royalty and nobility used decorative commodes and chamber pots, sometimes with aromatic herbs or perfumes to mask odors. However, these were not connected to drainage systems.
6. Modernization: It wasn't until the late 18th and early 19th centuries that modern plumbing and sanitation systems were gradually introduced in European royal palaces, including Versailles.
These practices were common during that time period and not unique to Versailles. The palace has since undergone significant modernization and now features modern bathrooms and sanitation facilities.
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