The Altes Schloss is one of the few historic structures in central Giessen to survive the Allied bombing raids of December 1944, which destroyed the majority of the old city. The building dates from the late medieval period and served as the residence of the Landgraves of Hesse before the court moved south to Darmstadt. Today it houses the Upper Hessian Museum (Oberhessisches Museum), which holds collections of art, local history, and decorative arts spanning the region's past.
The castle's position near the centre of town makes it an easy stop during any walking tour of Giessen. The courtyard is worth visiting on its own terms, and the museum inside offers a reasonable overview of the region's history from the medieval period to the 20th century, including material on the city's destruction and reconstruction after 1944.