Some 700 years ago, the story goes, a sadistic bailiff called Gessler decided to teach the people living around the many arms of mountain-flanked Lake Lucerne a lesson in obedience.
There has been much talk of late about Gessler we Francuskim, too, run by TV chef Adam Gessler since 2011, where bare plaster walls give an urban edge to an otherwise grand, high-ceilinged setting, with dark wood wainscotting, crisp white linen tablecloths and brass light fittings.