Season 4 of The White Lotus is officially heading to the French Riviera, continuing the show’s tradition of pairing lavish destinations with razor-sharp social satire. The upcoming season will be filmed primarily in Saint-Tropez, with the 19th-century Château de la Messardière serving as one of its central locations.
The move marks the first time the HBO series has set an entire season in France, expanding its global footprint after previous chapters in Hawaii, Sicily, and Thailand.
Perched on a hill above Saint-Tropez and surrounded by 32 acres of landscaped gardens, Château de la Messardière offers the kind of cinematic grandeur that has become synonymous with The White Lotus.
The former palace has been transformed into an ultra-luxury hotel featuring expansive suites, panoramic terraces, multiple restaurants, a spa, and curated experiences ranging from wellness programs to private beach access. Suite rates at the property typically range from several thousand dollars per night, reinforcing its status as a symbol of Riviera exclusivity.
Filming is expected to begin in late April and continue through October, allowing production to capture the region during peak summer season as well as quieter transitional months. As with previous seasons, the story will not be confined to a single hotel. Creator Mike White is known for blending multiple locations to create a layered sense of place, and Season 4 will reportedly include scenes shot at additional properties along the Côte d’Azur, as well as select sequences filmed in Paris.
While plot details remain under wraps, the season will once again follow a group of guests and hotel staff over the course of a single week, exploring themes of privilege, power, and personal collapse beneath the surface of luxury. Industry sources suggest the Cannes Film Festival could factor into the storyline, given the timing and proximity of filming, though no official confirmation has been made.
Casting for the new season is underway, with a notable number of French actors auditioning, signaling a stronger local presence than in previous installments. The series has already confirmed several new cast members, while maintaining its tradition of largely standalone seasons with minimal returning characters.
Following the global tourism impact of earlier seasons, Saint-Tropez is likely to experience renewed attention as The White Lotus transforms one of Europe’s most storied resort towns into its next stage.
For the French Riviera, the series brings not just international exposure, but a fresh cultural lens on glamour, excess, and the uneasy truths that often lie beneath them.
