The upcoming fourth season of HBO’s The White Lotus will film at the Château de la Messardière, a 19th-century castle hotel in Saint-Tropez, marking a major shift to European old-money glamour and a new creative direction for the series. Reports confirm the production will use this ultra-luxury property as its primary location, moving the show’s signature satire of wealth and privilege to the sun-drenched French Riviera.
Filming is scheduled to begin in late April 2026 and continue through October 2026, making it one of the longest shoots for the series to date. For the first time, the show is stepping away from its established partnership with Four Seasons hotels, choosing instead the Airelles Collection’s Château de la Messardière.
From Wedding Gift to White Lotus Stage
The history of the Château de la Messardière reads like a script from the show itself. The castle was built in the 19th century by a wealthy cognac merchant, Gabriel Dupuy d’Angeac, as a wedding gift for his daughter. It was converted into a luxury hotel in the 1920s, becoming a playground for Parisian high society. After a period of decline, it underwent a meticulous restoration in 1989 and today is a protected historical monument.
Now part of the exclusive Airelles Collection, the château is a five-star hotel set on a 32-acre hilltop estate overlooking the Bay of Saint-Tropez and surrounded by the Ramatuelle vineyards. Its architecture is a blend of Anglo-Moorish, Florentine, and Provençal styles, creating a visually stunning backdrop.
Inside the Ultra-Luxury Experience
A stay at the Château de la Messardière offers a level of service and exclusivity that perfectly fits The White Lotus theme of ritualized luxury.
The property features 86 individually decorated rooms and suites, with many offering private terraces and plunge pools. For the ultimate in privacy and excess, the hotel also offers multi-bedroom private villas. The crown jewel is La Bastide, a four-bedroom villa with a private 12-meter swimming pool and panoramic views.
Guests have access to a wide array of elite amenities, which are likely to feature in the show’s plot:
- A fleet of Rolls-Royce cars with chauffeurs to ferry guests to town or the beach.
- Jardin Tropezina, a private beach club on the famous Pampelonne Beach, designed by the luxury brand iKKim’O.
- Five swimming pools, including a large central pool, children’s pools, and an indoor option.
- Nine dining and bar venues, ranging from the Italian fine dining of Palladio to the Japanese-Peruvian fusion of Matsuhisa Saint-Tropez.
- An expansive Spa Valmont with nine treatment rooms, a hammam, and a sauna.
- Sports facilities including tennis and padel courts, a 24-hour fitness center, and an open-air gym overlooking the bay.
The price for this paradise is predictably astronomical. Room rates begin at approximately $1,300 to $1,450 per night during the shoulder season and can soar to over $12,000 per night for premium suites in peak summer. Some of the largest private villas command more than $20,000 for a single night.
A Creative Shift for the Series
The move to the French Riviera represents a deliberate tonal shift for creator Mike White. He has indicated a desire to move away from the show’s familiar visual language of crashing waves and coastal scenery.
“For the fourth season, I want to get a little bit out of the ‘crashing waves against rocks’ vernacular,” White stated in a recent video released by Max.
This change extends to the music. Composer Cristóbal Tapia de Veer, who created the distinctive, unsettling scores for the first three seasons, will not return for Season 4 due to reported creative differences.
The location itself is expected to influence the story deeply. Unlike the remote “escape” feel of Hawaii, Sicily, or Thailand, Saint-Tropez is a stage for European old money, celebrity culture, and social maneuvering. Sources suggest the storyline may incorporate the Cannes Film Festival, which takes place in May 2026, coinciding with the production schedule.
Breaking the Four Seasons Pattern
A significant departure for Season 4 is the break from the Four Seasons hotel chain. The first three seasons were filmed at Four Seasons properties in Maui, Sicily, and Thailand. This was part of a marketing partnership that provided immense exposure for the hotels, leading to a well-documented “White Lotus Effect” that dramatically boosted tourism and bookings at each location.
The choice of the Airelles property, owned by media mogul Stéphane Courbit, marks a new chapter. The production will still film at multiple venues along the Riviera and reportedly at a hotel in Paris, but the Château de la Messardière will serve as the central hub.
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Casting and Fan Theories Begin
Casting is currently underway with a noted push to include French actors. The first confirmed new cast members are Alexander Ludwig (Vikings, The Hunger Games) and AJ Michalka (The Goldbergs). It remains unclear which actors from previous seasons might return.
Fans online have been quick to speculate about potential plots, joking that this will be the show’s richest cast yet and theorizing about storylines involving super-yachts, film industry egos at Cannes, and explosive dynamics within the ultra-private world of Riviera luxury. The hotel itself has playfully hinted at the news, posting on social media late last year, “This isn’t a movie set — it’s Château de la Messardière.”.
With its long filming schedule, the season is not expected to premiere until late 2026 or early 2027. As always, White has promised one constant: not every guest will survive their stay.
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