 The town is situated on the Obra river in the Greater Poland historic region, about west of Poznań.Gmina Zbąszyń is part of the Polish-German Pomerania Euroregion

While the earliest mentions of the settlement date back to 1231, the name "Sbansin" first appeared in a 1277 deed, issued by Duke Przemysł I of Greater Poland at his Poznań residence.Its citizens received town privileges before 1311, making Zbąszyń one of the oldest towns in Poland.