始建于(yu)元(yuan)代(dai)(dai),明(ming)代(dai)(dai)重建。該殿頗具元(yuan)代(dai)(dai)建筑的典型(xing)減柱造特色,東西長七間(jian),南北寬四(si)間(jian),廡殿頂琉璃瓦剪邊(bian),設三跺單翹單昂斗拱。清康熙年(nian)間(jian)(1662-1722年(nian)),大道(dao)觀(guan)東曾(ceng)有池塘,養魚栽荷(he)。州人(ren)每逢中秋(qiu)佳節(jie)攜酒前往(wang)賞月,因景(jing)取(qu)名“西溪玩月”,被列為定州八景(jing)之一。殿內四(si)壁(bi)現存明(ming)代(dai)(dai)萬歷年(nian)間(jian)(1573-1620年(nian))瀝粉(fen)貼金帝王出(chu)巡圖。畫(hua)面人(ren)物栩栩如生,畫(hua)工可(ke)與五岳(yue)之一的北岳(yue)廟壁(bi)畫(hua)媲美。全國(guo)重點文物保護單位。
大(da)(da)道(dao)觀(guan)原(yuan)為(wei)(wei)中軸式群體建筑,由(you)南向(xiang)北依次為(wei)(wei)大(da)(da)照壁、關帝殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、二神(shen)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、六(liu)神(shen)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、老君(jun)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)五座大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),現僅(jin)存玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)平面(mian)為(wei)(wei)長(chang)方形,東西面(mian)闊七間,南北進(jin)深(shen)四間,采用了(le)元(yuan)代(dai)常用的減柱造,廡(wu)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)頂,琉璃(li)瓦剪(jian)邊,設(she)三(san)踩,單翹單昂斗(dou)拱(gong)。昂嘴(zui)造型(xing)(xing)似為(wei)(wei)明(ming)(ming)清(qing)中葉時期造型(xing)(xing),但(dan)昂嘴(zui)根部與宋(song)式做法(fa)相合(he),反映該(gai)大(da)(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)可能經歷了(le)明(ming)(ming)清(qing)時的大(da)(da)修(xiu)。中殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內(nei)四壁均繪有(you)瀝粉貼金(jin)眾神(shen)朝拜(bai)圖和玉(yu)(yu)皇(huang)大(da)(da)帝天上(shang)宮殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)建筑,畫面(mian)造型(xing)(xing)優美(mei),人物(wu)線條流暢(chang),各部大(da)(da)臣(chen)及雷(lei)神(shen)、雨神(shen)等(deng)造型(xing)(xing)生(sheng)動(dong),各具特色。
2006年大道觀玉皇殿作為明代的古(gu)建筑,被國務院列(lie)入第(di)六(liu)批全(quan)國重點文物保(bao)護單位(wei)。