Bystřice nad Pernštejnem is a town in the west of Moravia in the Vysočina Region in the district of Žďár nad Sázavou, 24 km east of Žďár nad Sázavou on the river Bystřice. 7906 inhabitants live here. The city, founded in the 13th century, got its name from the local river Bystřica. In the 14th century, Bystřice became the economic and commercial center of the surrounding villages, which belonged to the Pernštejn estate.