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[Sergius]

The Catholic Church banned bathing or something because it equated it to worship of the body or something.

[Neyvn]

You wouldn't find a sewer.

no sewer system?  the romans had them, right? for medieval cities weren't they those small dugged channels in the center of the roads?

Don't know if anyone actually explained this fully...
Medieval Cities toilets were more of Chamberpots and Dropdunnys. The Chamberpots would be left out at certain times where someone would come around and collect them and throw the contents into a wagon and move on. Kinda disgusting. Think Milk Runs but Poo... The Dropdunnys were also used in their castles for certain places, I think it was mainly the french who built those kinds. The chute would fall off the Wall itself and into the moat below. Kept the Guardsmen on the Walls doing their job, and no one would want to swim in your moat...

[scriver]

The Catholic Church banned bathing or something because it equated it to worship of the body or something.

though in the "Roman" parts the tradition ceased after Christianity took over

They banned bathhouses, because they were associated with Roman-pagan worship, and sinful revelry off all kinds - food, sex, drinking, lots off stuff.

The bathhouses got better, though. It's hard to ban an elementary need such as cleaning yourself, and without modern plumbing most people didn't have the means to get clean (enough) water to their own houses.

[dr_random]

A plaza for the market and the means for punishment like stocks or pillory. A strong city with "burger" tradition is more likely to have a townhall with mayor and council than a castle.
As for the cemeteries: They were usually right next to the churches but depending on the setting you could find vast cemeteries oustside the gates once the plague had went by.
Most cities would also feature a monastery.
A true city also needs a river and that comes with wharves and a nice shady quarter. Add bridges and toll stations for extra income.
A mint will provide the coins needed for trade or have the rich citizens have some coin exchange services.

[Sergius]

The Catholic Church banned bathing or something because it equated it to worship of the body or something.

though in the "Roman" parts the tradition ceased after Christianity took over

They banned bathhouses, because they were associated with Roman-pagan worship, and sinful revelry off all kinds - food, sex, drinking, lots off stuff.

I meant banned well into the 15th century... basically, it was bathing itself that was considered bad. One of the reasons perfumes were in vogue.
Maybe I'm getting the years wrong.

[scriver]

Ah, no, it was banned around then too in a lot of places, but not really by the church, though they probably didn't disagree.
Anyway, it was because bathhouses were prime places for spreading of STDs, like syphilis. Because of the prostitution going on at them.

But that's Renaissance, really. Of course, the post-Roman banning isn't exactly medieval either.

[lordcooper]

Whores.  Lots and lots of whores.

[LoneTophat]

Gibbets. And heads on pikes hanging from the walls.

[Max White]

Whores.  Lots and lots of whores.

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

[mainiac]

Pretty sure only the Arab part of the old continent had bathhouses.

Most certainly not.  Bathhouses were ubiquitous in German and Scandinavian culture and were found in every two bit town on the continent.

[Funk]

baths were rare but .nor did every one not a lord or rich merchants go round coverd in mud and shit.
most did only wash face, hands, feet and armpits daily.
clothing was washed weeky for sunday mass hense your sunday best.

[Virex]

Pretty sure only the Arab part of the old continent had bathhouses.

Most certainly not.  Bathhouses were ubiquitous in German and Scandinavian culture and were found in every two bit town on the continent.

I seem to recall one Arabian writer being impressed with the hygienic standards of the Viking mercenaries that he came into contact with (Though not on par with their own, it was at least a lot better than he expected), so I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. And as the Hansa towns often developed from important Viking settlements, they would probably have held on to the tradition. Besides that, if the Church was really one of the opponents of bath houses, it's not that strange that the north held on to them, as the north was never all that fond of the Church in the first place.

[scriver]

Most certainly not.  Bathhouses were ubiquitous in German and Scandinavian culture and were found in every two bit town on the continent.

Man, why does it feel like you said in one sentence what I used several post for and still said it better.

baths were rare but .nor did every one not a lord or rich merchants go round coverd in mud and shit.
most did only wash face, hands, feet and armpits daily.

No, that was later, when "doctors" thought "bad vapours" could enter the body through the pores while/after bathing, and that was still mostly just the rich/upper class. Medieval folks took much better care of themselves than that.

Also I think you're missing part of your sentence there.

Pretty sure only the Arab part of the old continent had bathhouses.

Most certainly not.  Bathhouses were ubiquitous in German and Scandinavian culture and were found in every two bit town on the continent.

I seem to recall one Arabian writer being impressed with the hygienic standards of the Viking mercenaries that he came into contact with (Though not on par with their own, it was at least a lot better than he expected), so I wouldn't be surprised in the slightest. And as the Hansa towns often developed from important Viking settlements, they would probably have held on to the tradition.

Vikings were such big wusses.

[mainiac]

Just because your typical lowerclass people didn't bathe daily (or weekly) doesn't change the fact that there were bathhouses pretty much everywhere.  You don't go to the barber daily (or weekly) but you have to be in a pretty darn small town for there to be no barber.

Most certainly not.  Bathhouses were ubiquitous in German and Scandinavian culture and were found in every two bit town on the continent.

Man, why does it feel like you said in one sentence what I used several post for and still said it better.

I liked your post and was just trying to back you up.

But the historical nature is beyond the point anyway.  The point is that bathhouses would be a great thing to include in a setting.  A perfect place for backroom dealings, honest or otherwise.

[Knight of Fools]

Not to mention getting clean.