Three-star chef Benoit Violier, whose restaurant near Lausanne recently topped a list of the world’s best, has been found dead. He was 44.

Mr Violier was found dead in his home late Sunday afternoon in the municipality of Crissier, police said in a statement.

An investigation has been opened to determine the exact circumstances of the death.

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A police statement said Mr Violier’s family had asked for privacy “to be allowed to mourn in peace”.

Violier’s establishment, the Restaurant de l’Hotel de Ville in Crissier, served dishes such as saddle of Pyrenean young lamb and crispy Landes duck foie gras.

Last year it was ranked first on a French government-sponsored list of the world’s top 1000 restaurants.

Celebrating the win at the time, he said: “It’s wonderful, it’s exceptional for us. This ranking will only motivate our team more.”

“My thoughts go out to Benoit Violier’s family. Very sad news about an extremely talented chef,” Michelin-starred French chef Pierre Gagnaire tweeted.

Paul Bocuse — dubbed the “Pope of French cuisine” — described Violier as a “great chef, great man, huge talent”, while fellow star chef Jean Francois Piege, tweeted: “An immense chef, an immense sadness, thoughts go out to his family and his team.”

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