It is located on the right bank of the river Elbe, about halfway between Riesa to the south and Torgau to the northwest.

It is accessed by the Bundesstraße 182 (Riesa - Torgau - Wittenberg) on the left bank of the Elbe, connected with the town by a bridge, opened in 2008.

The town was founded on a sandy island where the River Elbe could be crossed under protection of a castle.

There is archaeological evidence, in the form of burials, of Slavic settlement dating back to ca.

The forces of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor defeated the Schmalkaldic League at the Battle of Mühlberg near the castle on April 24, 1547.