The Pernštejn castle is situated on a rocky hill north-west of the Moravian metropolis Brno. The castle was built gradually over circa three centuries by one of the wealthiest noble families in the Czech lands. The story of its foundation is described in a legend dating back to the 16th century which is carved in one of the stones from which the castle was built. The hero of the legend is the patriarch of the family Vaněk who – thanks to his wits and sobriety – overpowered a bison who did damage to people. Later on, Vaněk tamed the bison, put a withe in its nostrils and took it to the Margrave’s castle. For his brave act he earned a rich reward – the ownership of a large territory where the Pernštejn castle was later built. And he was allowed to use a bison’s head with a withe in its nostrils in the family coat-of-arms which symbolizes wits, sobriety and taming of rough force