Wealthy French Before the Industrial Revolution

The rich people of France enjoyed lives of luxury, very different from the lives of peasants.

They ate white bread and drank wine made from the finest grapes. They enjoyed new, fashionable drinks such as brandy, which were made using the wasteful process of distilling wine.

The rich often ate meat - beef, mutton, peacock, swan, partridge and pheasant. After 1550, they enjoyed turkey from the Americas.

The wealthy had vegetables and spices to eat with their meat.

They ate fresh fish on fast days. For the rich, feasts - which could be family celebrations or mark important saint's days - often lasted three days and nights.

Unlike peasants, the wealthy were able to feast all night long because they could afford torches and candles.

Food might be placed on an enormous dish, with smaller plates, also filled with food, piled higher and higher into a pyramid.