# Žďár nad Sázavou District

Žďár nad Sázavou District (Czech: okres Žďár nad Sázavou) is a district in the Vysočina Region of the Czech Republic. Its capital is the town of Žďár nad Sázavou.

## Administrative division

Žďár nad Sázavou District is divided into four administrative districts of municipalities with extended competence: Žďár nad Sázavou, Bystřice nad Pernštejnem, Nové Město na Moravě and Velké Meziříčí.

### List of municipalities

Towns are marked in bold and market towns in italics:
Baliny - Blažkov - Blízkov - Bobrová - Bobrůvka - Bohdalec - Bohdalov - Bohuňov - Borovnice - Bory - Březejc - Březí nad Oslavou - Březí - Březské - Budeč - Bukov - Býšovec - Bystřice nad Pernštejnem - Černá - Chlumek - Chlumětín - Chlum-Korouhvice - Cikháj - Dalečín - Daňkovice - Dlouhé - Dobrá Voda - Dolní Heřmanice - Dolní Libochová - Dolní Rožínka - Fryšava pod Žákovou horou - Hamry nad Sázavou - Herálec - Heřmanov - Hodíškov - Horní Libochová - Horní Radslavice - Horní Rožínka - Jabloňov - Jámy - Javorek - Jimramov - Jívoví - Kadolec - Kadov - Karlov - Kněževes - Koroužné - Kotlasy - Kozlov - Krásné - Krásněves - Křídla - Křižánky - Křižanov - Křoví - Kuklík - Kundratice - Kyjov - Lavičky - Lhotka - Lísek - Líšná - Malá Losenice - Martinice - Matějov - Měřín - Meziříčko - Milasín - Milešín - Mirošov - Moravec - Moravecké Pavlovice - Netín - Nížkov - Nová Ves - Nová Ves u Nového Města na Moravě - Nové Dvory - Nové Město na Moravě - Nové Sady - Nové Veselí - Nový Jimramov - Nyklovice - Obyčtov - Ořechov - Oslavice - Osová Bítýška - Osové - Ostrov nad Oslavou - Otín - Pavlínov - Pavlov - Petráveč - Pikárec - Písečné - Počítky - Poděšín - Podolí - Pokojov - Polnička - Prosetín - Račice - Račín - Radenice - Radešín - Radešínská Svratka - Radkov - Radňoves - Radňovice - Radostín nad Oslavou - Radostín - Řečice - Rodkov - Rosička - Rousměrov - Rovečné - Rožná - Rozseč - Rozsochy - Ruda - Rudolec - Sázava - Sazomín - Sejřek - Sirákov - Sklené - Sklené nad Oslavou - Skorotice - Škrdlovice - Skřinářov - Sněžné - Spělkov - Štěpánov nad Svratkou - Strachujov - Stránecká Zhoř - Strážek - Střítež - Sulkovec - Světnov - Sviny - Svratka - Tasov - Tři Studně - Ubušínek - Uhřínov - Ujčov - Újezd - Unčín - Vatín - Věchnov - Věcov - Velká Bíteš - Velká Losenice - Velké Janovice - Velké Meziříčí - Velké Tresné - Vepřová - Věstín - Věžná - Vídeň - Vidonín - Vír - Vlachovice - Vlkov - Vojnův Městec - Vysoké - Záblatí - Zadní Zhořec - Ždánice - Žďár nad Sázavou - Znětínek - Zubří - Zvole

## Geography

The landscape is rugged and diverse, with above-average elevations compared to the rest of the country. The territory extends into three geomorphological mesoregions: Křižanov Highlands (most of the territory), Upper Svratka Highlands (north and east) and Upper Sázava Hills (smalls part in the west). The highest point of the district is the mountain Devět skal in Křižánky with an elevation of 836 m (2,743 ft), the lowest point is the river bed of the Bobrůvka in Strážek at 370 m (1,210 ft).
From the total district area of 1,578.7 km$^2$ (609.5 sq mi), agricultural land occupies 874.7 km$^2$ (337.7 sq mi), forests occupy 552.2 km$^2$ (213.2 sq mi), and water area occupies 33.6 km$^2$ (13.0 sq mi). Forests cover 35.0% of the district's area.
There are several important rivers that originates here (in the area of Žďárské vrchy) and drain the territory. The Sázava flows through the north and west. The Svratka originates near the Sázava and flows through the north and east. The Oslava flows through the central part of the district to the south. The Doubrava River originates here, but soon leaves the district. Other notable watercourses are the Bobrůvka and Balinka.
The territory is rich in bodies of water. The largest body of water is Vír I Reservoir. The largest pond is Velké Dářko, which is also the largest pond of the whole Vysočina Region.
Žďárské vrchy is the only protected landscape area in the district. It covers the northern part of the district.

## Demographics

| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1869 | 113,125 | — |
| 1880 | 115,173 | +1.8% |
| 1890 | 112,020 | −2.7% |
| 1900 | 110,485 | −1.4% |
| 1910 | 110,497 | +0.0% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1921 | 107,445 | −2.8% |
| 1930 | 105,212 | −2.1% |
| 1950 | 92,023 | −12.5% |
| 1961 | 101,847 | +10.7% |
| 1970 | 109,221 | +7.2% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
| 1980 | 117,051 | +7.2% |
| 1991 | 118,841 | +1.5% |
| 2001 | 119,627 | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 117,219 | −2.0% |
| 2021 | 114,648 | −2.2% |
Source: Censuses :

### Most populated municipalities

| Name | Population | Area (km$^2$) |
| Žďár nad Sázavou | 20,525 | 37 |
| Velké Meziříčí | 11,627 | 41 |
| Nové Město na Moravě | 9,904 | 61 |
| Bystřice nad Pernštejnem | 7,896 | 53 |
| Velká Bíteš | 5,574 | 47 |
| Měřín | 2,010 | 18 |
| Křižanov | 1,802 | 14 |
| Hamry nad Sázavou | 1,594 | 7 |
| Svratka | 1,418 | 15 |
| Nové Veselí | 1,375 | 10 |

## Economy

The largest employers with headquarters in Žďár nad Sázavou District and at least 500 employees are:
| Economic entity | Location | Number of employees | Main activity |
| ŽĎAS | Žďár nad Sázavou | 1,500–1,999 | Casting of metals |
| Wera Werk | Bystřice nad Pernštejnem | 1,000–1,499 | Manufacture of tools |
| Nové Město na Moravě Hospital | Nové Město na Moravě | 1,000–1,499 | Health care |
| ITW Pronovia | Velká Bíteš | 1,000–1,499 | Manufacture of components |
| První brněnská strojírna | Velká Bíteš | 500–999 | Manufacture of equipment for aviation |
| Cooper-Standard Automotive ČR | Žďár nad Sázavou | 500–999 | Automotive industry |
| Hettich ČR | Žďár nad Sázavou | 500–999 | Manufacture of furniture fittings |

## Transport

The D1 motorway from Prague to Brno passes through the southern part of the district.

## Sights

The pilgrimage Church of Saint John of Nepomuk in Žďár nad Sázavou was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 because of its unique architectural style, created by architect Jan Santini Aichel. It is the most important monument in the district and also the only monument protected as a national cultural monument.
The best-preserved settlements, protected as monument reservations and monument zones, are:
* Krátká (monument reservation)
* Křižánky (monument reservation)
* Jimramov
* Nové Město na Moravě
* Velká Bíteš
* Velké Meziříčí
* Ubušínek
The most visited tourist destinations are the Šikland western town in Zvole, Mining Museum in Nové Město na Moravě, Žďár nad Sázavou Castle, and Eden Centrum amusement park in Bystřice nad Pernštejnem.