Darmstädter Schloss, Château in Groß-Umstadt, Germany

The Darmstädter Schloss, also called Hanauer Schloss or Unterschloss, stands at the eastern entrance to Groß-Umstadt's old town beside the Stadthalle. It began as a moated castle on the town wall and was rebuilt between 1727 and 1747 as a Baroque three-wing complex; of the old buildings only the north and south wings with their gateway survive, restored since the mid-20th century.

The castle was probably built in the 12th century on behalf of Fulda Abbey, owner of Umstadt, and served as the seat of the Fulda bailiffs. It was first mentioned in 1376 as a moated castle during disputes with the House of Wertheim. From 1460 it was rebuilt and expanded in Gothic style, and in 1504 it was conquered by Landgrave Wilhelm II of Hesse; after a settlement in 1524 it passed permanently to Hesse.

The building is also called Hanauer Schloss or Unterschloss, recalling the counts of Hanau who ruled their half of Umstadt from here and rebuilt the castle in Gothic style from 1460. Its lower north wing facing the street Am Darmstädter Schloss was once part of the town wall.

Only the restored north and south wings with their passageway survive from the baroque complex; the northern ground floor facing Am Darmstädter Schloss once formed part of the town wall. The site lies beside the Stadthalle at the eastern entrance to the old town, and a stretch of the lowered town wall, roughly seventy metres long, is still visible to the north.

The baroque three-wing complex of 1727–1747 replaced every older building; of the medieval water castle only the lower storey of the north wing survives, built into the town wall, about seventy metres of which still stand. The Amtschreiberei was demolished in the 20th century.