HBO's hit series The White Lotus has begun production on its fourth season, this time set against the glamorous backdrop of the French Riviera. According to producers, the new season will follow a fresh group of hotel guests and employees over the course of a week, with the narrative unfolding during the Cannes Film Festival.
Confirmed shooting locations include Cannes, Saint-Tropez, and Monaco, with additional filming in Paris—though the story remains anchored along the Côte d'Azur. The two hotels chosen to represent the fictional White Lotus properties are the palatial Airelles Château de la Messardière, standing in as the White Lotus du Cap, and the iconic Hôtel Martinez, serving as the White Lotus Cannes.
A Fairytale Château in Saint-Tropez
The Airelles Château de la Messardière, perched in Saint-Tropez, blends Mediterranean villa charm with medieval castle aesthetics. Its central keep, flanked by turrets and porticoed terraces, evokes a storybook setting. Built in the 19th century as a lavish wedding gift from a cavalry officer to his bride, the property later hosted Gatsby-esque parties in the 1920s before being transformed into a luxury sea-view hotel.
Surrounded by a 13-hectare park of umbrella pines and cypress trees, the hotel's interiors capture the Mediterranean light with airy spaces in pastel yellows and oranges, and parquet floors inspired by Italian terracotta. From this tranquil oasis, the cast will be just a short distance from Saint-Tropez's beaches and legendary nightclubs, where much of the season's drama is expected to unfold.
An Art Deco Icon in Cannes
The Hôtel Martinez, part of the Unbound Collection by Hyatt, is a jewel on Cannes' Croisette seafront promenade. Built in 1929, its expansive ivory facade features Art Deco stylized reliefs and decorative balconies. The Belle Époque vibe continues inside, renovated in 2017, with white lacquered furniture, geometric-patterned rugs, and a giant cascading chandelier in the lobby.
The hotel boasts a beach club, a 600m² L'Oasis Spa by Carita, and the one-Michelin-star Palme d'Or restaurant, named after the Cannes Film Festival's top prize. The White Lotus cast joins a long list of illustrious past guests, including Grace Kelly, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Clint Eastwood, and Scarlett Johansson.
For travelers inspired by these luxurious settings, Travel + Leisure's 2026 'It List' highlights global luxury hotels, including European entries, offering further inspiration for upscale stays. Meanwhile, those planning a trip to the region might also explore new European flight routes for summer 2025 from airlines like Finnair, BA, Eurowings, easyJet, and Wizz Air.
The fourth season of The White Lotus promises to deliver the same sharp social commentary and scenic indulgence that have made the series a global phenomenon, now set against one of Europe's most iconic coastlines.
