What’s a barouche?

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A barouche is a type of carriage with two bench seats facing each other and a collapsible hood. It was popular in the 19th century and is still used for special occasions. It requires skill to drive and is expensive due to its hand-made construction.

A barouche is a type of cart designed for use with pairs of horses. This design was highly fashionable until the late 19th century, and was generally considered an elegant carriage for formal occasions, especially in the summer. With the advent of the automobile, barouches are relatively rare, but are still worn in some regions of the world and on special occasions. High-quality barouches can be very expensive because the best ones are made and decorated by hand.

Several things distinguish a barouche from other carriages. Like many carriages designed for groups of passengers and couples, a barouche has four wheels. The car also has two bench seats facing each other, with passengers usually climbing into the space between them to get into the car. The driver sits outside in a separate box, which may or may not be protected.

folding lid

The top of a barouche is really what sets it apart, as it is collapsible, making it a hooded wagon that can be used in a variety of weather conditions. Most of the people prefer to travel in this type of carriage with the top open, enjoying the warm and pleasant weather of summer and displaying elegant clothes. However, in inclement weather the top could be raised for shelter, making the four-wheeled carriage more comfortable and pleasant to ride in, although the top does not fully enclose the barouche.

Other construction details

This fashionable car is most reliable on roads that are somewhat smooth, because uneven roads and ruts could potentially break axles or make the ride quite uncomfortable. Early versions of the carriage had very primitive suspension systems that probably communicated every bump in the road to the passengers, although modern barouches are generally built with more advanced technology. As is the case with many formal carriages, there is usually a great deal of brass, woodwork and leather in a barouche and its harness, all of which need to be kept shiny and well-maintained.

hard to drive

Driving a barouche well requires some skill because it uses a pair or pairs of horses. The more pairs, the higher the implicit social status of the car owner or passengers, and the more difficult it is to manage. Pairs of horses are the same breed and size so they complement each other, and many people prefer to drive matched pairs with similar coloring as well. The coordination of the horses during a ride is demanding, and suggests a high level of patience and concentration on the part of the driver.




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