始建(jian)于元代,明(ming)代重(zhong)建(jian)。該(gai)殿頗(po)具元代建(jian)筑的(de)典型減(jian)柱造特色,東西長(chang)七間(jian)(jian),南北(bei)寬四間(jian)(jian),廡殿頂琉璃瓦(wa)剪(jian)邊,設三跺單(dan)翹單(dan)昂斗拱。清(qing)康熙年間(jian)(jian)(1662-1722年),大道(dao)觀東曾有池(chi)塘,養魚栽荷。州人(ren)每逢中秋佳節(jie)攜酒(jiu)前往賞月,因景(jing)取名“西溪玩月”,被(bei)列為(wei)定州八(ba)景(jing)之一。殿內四壁現存明(ming)代萬歷年間(jian)(jian)(1573-1620年)瀝粉貼(tie)金(jin)帝王(wang)出巡圖(tu)。畫面人(ren)物栩栩如生,畫工可與五岳之一的(de)北(bei)岳廟(miao)壁畫媲(pi)美。全國重(zhong)點文物保護單(dan)位。
大(da)道觀原(yuan)為中(zhong)軸式群體建筑(zhu),由南向北依次為大(da)照壁、關帝(di)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、二(er)神(shen)(shen)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、六(liu)神(shen)(shen)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、玉皇殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)、老君(jun)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)五座大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian),現僅存玉皇殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)。玉皇殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)平面(mian)為長方形,東西面(mian)闊七(qi)間,南北進(jin)深(shen)四間,采用了(le)元代(dai)常用的減柱造(zao)(zao)(zao),廡殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)頂,琉璃(li)瓦剪(jian)邊,設三踩,單翹單昂斗拱。昂嘴造(zao)(zao)(zao)型(xing)似(si)為明清(qing)中(zhong)葉時期(qi)造(zao)(zao)(zao)型(xing),但昂嘴根部與宋式做(zuo)法相合,反映該大(da)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)可能經(jing)歷了(le)明清(qing)時的大(da)修。中(zhong)殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)內四壁均繪有瀝粉(fen)貼金眾神(shen)(shen)朝拜圖和玉皇大(da)帝(di)天上宮殿(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)(dian)建筑(zhu),畫面(mian)造(zao)(zao)(zao)型(xing)優美,人物線條流暢,各(ge)部大(da)臣及雷神(shen)(shen)、雨神(shen)(shen)等(deng)造(zao)(zao)(zao)型(xing)生動,各(ge)具特色。
2006年(nian)大道觀玉(yu)皇殿(dian)作為明代的古建筑,被國務院(yuan)列入第六批全國重點文物保(bao)護(hu)單(dan)位。