The Residential Palace (Residenzschloss) was the seat of the Landgraves and Grand Dukes of Hesse-Darmstadt for four centuries, and its white baroque facades still dominate the city centre. Much of the palace was destroyed in the Second World War and the reconstruction completed in the 1990s, but the result is handsome enough and the Schlossmuseum within is genuinely interesting.
The museum traces the history of the Hessian grand-ducal court through furniture, portraits, silver, weapons, and decorative objects from the 16th to early 20th centuries. The collection includes Holbein portraits, remarkable marquetry furniture, and an unusual collection of historic carriages. The tower, which you can climb, offers the best elevated view of the central city.
The palace is in the heart of the old town at Marktplatz. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday.