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Hammelburg is situated at an altitude of 179 m on the river Fränkische Saale in the foothills of the Bavarian Rhön mountains.

The earliest mention of a castle (Hamulo castellum) dates from AD 716. In 741/777 Hammelburg came in possession of the monastery of Fulda. In 1303 Hammelburg was chartered as a town and at that time was an important fortress guarding the southern borders of the Fulda possessions. After the secularization of 1803 Hammelburg became part of Nassau. During the Napoleonic times it was administered by the French between 1806 and 1810. Thereafter it became part of the newly-founded Grand Duchy of Frankfurt. In 1816 it finally became part of Bavaria. Until 1972 Hammelburg was the seat of a district administration; since then it is part of the administrative district Bad Kissingen.

The training area Hammelburg [left] was founded in 1895/96. The village Bonnland was depopulated in 1937 and was incorporated into the training area.