In brief
- Filming of episodes 36 and 37 of the series Alex Hugo wrapped on 5 August 2026 in the Briançonnais.
- A fierce wildfire that broke out on 15 July in the Écrins massif destroyed over 500 hectares of vegetation, disrupting the initial schedule.
- For over ten years, the production has relied on the natural backdrops of the Hautes-Alpes, attracting an average of 6 million viewers.
- The fictional police station of Lusagne remains permanently established in Val-des-Prés, generating significant local economic benefits.
Filming of the famous crime series: the filming location of Alex Hugo
Filming of the famous crime series, starring actor Samuel Le Bihan on France Télévisions, wrapped on 5 August 2026 in the wild landscapes of the Briançonnais, overcoming recent logistical disruptions. This iconic production managed to navigate the repercussions of a major forest fire that broke out in the heart of summer in the Écrins massif. By adapting its schedule with remarkable agility, the crew successfully wrapped episodes 36 and 37 without compromising the visual quality or the majestic setting that define the aesthetic signature of this major television work.
A major fire in the heart of summer
A major fire in the heart of the Écrins massif
On 15 July 2026, a fierce fire broke out in the preserved sector of Bois Noir, located between the communes of L’Argentière-la-Bessée and Freissinières, right on the edge of the Parc national des Écrins. Faced with the rapid spread of the flames, emergency services deployed an exceptional response, peaking on 24 July with the simultaneous engagement of 240 firefighters. The environmental toll proved heavy: by 27 July, over 500 hectares of vegetation had been destroyed by fire. This disaster inevitably disrupted access to certain natural locations and forced the production team to urgently revise its roadmap to ensure everyone’s safety.
An immediate logistical adaptation in Val-des-Prés
Far from giving up or relocating the series elsewhere, the production reacted with great flexibility by bringing forward the shoots scheduled in Val-des-Prés, a picturesque village that has become essential to the plot. For the first time, episodes 36 and 37 were filmed simultaneously, an organisational feat made possible by the variety of alternative backdrops offered by the Briançonnais. According to production manager Alain L’Eveillé, the region’s geographical richness allows filming schedules to be adjusted without subjecting technical crews to long journeys. A permanent move of the production to another department is therefore out of the question for the crew.
The construction of an imaginary Alpine territory
A production faithful to the landscapes of the Hautes-Alpes
Created by Nicolas Tackian and Franck Thilliez, the series is loosely inspired by the characters in the novel “La mort et la belle vie” by American author Richard Hugo. It follows the investigations of a former Marseille police officer who flees the city for the apparent peace of Lusagne, a fictional mountain town. Since the drama launched in 2014, the Alpine landscapes have been a character in their own right, drawn in by an average of around 6 million viewers with each broadcast. By the end of 2025, out of 34 episodes produced, 33 had been filmed entirely in the department of Hautes-Alpes.
A strong collaboration with local stakeholders
Major local economic benefits
This geographical loyalty translates into significant economic and human benefits for local communities. The Lusagne police station, permanently set up in Val-des-Prés since 2021, requires five to six days of on-site work per episode. This summer, the crews spent around ten days there, mobilising between 50 and 60 broadcast professionals daily, not to mention the main actors and numerous extras recruited locally. The production also calls upon regional talent, such as Mickaël Amodeo, a former motorcycle rider from Briançon, who has worked for ten years as the designated stunt coordinator for two-wheeled scenes.
The deep-rooted history of the Alex Hugo series
Before Val-des-Prés became the central hub for Lusagne, the commune of Cervières regularly hosted the production starting in autumn 2015, making its alpine chalets and public spaces available. Although a brief geographical exception took place in September 2025 during a three-week shoot in Oisans and the Romanche valley in Isère, the relationship between the series and the Hautes-Alpes remains steadfast. Over the years, the identity of this crime drama has been shaped by the unique topography of the Briançonnais, proving that even flames cannot erode such deep regional roots.
