In and around Lake Gruyere, Switzerland (bingo mania, wallpaper museum) Part 2

It's around one o'clock and I stop in this farming village to eat a sandwich. Next to me is this outside flea market (brocante translates into flea market).

Ever watch that show called American Pickers? It has been running for about 15 years. It's about two guys traversing the USA going through people's attics, barns etc... looking for "junk" to buy.

This place would be right up their alley as the guys love to buy vintage signs. 

Several chickens are wandering the grounds--don't know if they're guard chickens. 

Anyway, as I'm eating my sandwich all these cars start pulling up and parking all over the place. I see mostly older women getting out and heading somewhere. Where could they be going? I'm assuming something is going on at nearby church as it's usually the social center of these villages.

I ask a passing woman and find out bingo is on the agenda.  I decide to follow the crowd.

This building houses a bar and restaurant and it's where bingo will take place.  So, can you see the two women going inside?  Entering requires climbing about a half-dozen stairs to the restaurant and bar on the second floor.

To reach the bingo hall on the third floor one has to navigate these stairs. I mention this because unlike in the USA, the Swiss have no laws mandating handicap access such as ramps and elevators.  

Instead of dinner followed by going to a movie it's lunch followed by bingo. 

This is the room where the magic happens. It's set to start in about a half-hour. The dining room and bar the floor below are packed and I'm sure they'll soon be high-tailing it up the stairs. 

This is an overflow room. The whole place seems to be comprised of 90% women. I hope they have fun!  Would like to know how much prize money is involved. 

Right next to bingo hall is this field with a half-dozen horses with their foals (babies). See the foal with the momma? I held out my hand and the curious foal came within inches of my hand before bolting back to momma as a guy came walking by with his large dog. Jeez, I thought maybe I had the makings of horse whisperer. 

After leaving bingo mania I'm cycling down the road a few miles and spot this spiffy-looking chateau. The plaque at the entrance says something about a "musee du papier peint".  Seeing the front door open I check it out.

I ask the cashier if this is a museum about writing paper. I'm way off. It's a wallpaper museum. 

The chateau dates back to the 16th century. In 1756 the place was purchased by the Diesbach family. In the 1770's wallpaper became incredibly fashionable in Europe, especially in Paris. When a new wing was added to the chateau in 1787-1789 wallpaper was used throughout. 

That such a collection survived intact is very unusual. 

So, we're talking wallpaper almost 250 years old.

Back then wallpaper wasn't made by a machine. 

Dresser drawers and suitcases were lined with wallpaper.

I would call this my favorite.

This is the backside of the chateau. It's much bigger than it looks from the front.