The first written mention about the town dates back to year 1200. The Czech Chronicle by Wenceslaus Hajek of Libočan mentions a village which in 1021 should have been situated in place called U kostelíčka. The name of the town is derived from Bystrý, a stream flowing through the town. After the original settlement was burnt out, a new market village Bystré was built up on the Trstenice trail. The village was shaped as a horseshoe and the first owner of the village Bystré were the Lords of Mokošín. Since 1213 the village belonged to Svojanov manor. Bystré received the town right during the reign of Charles IV. In the later period the city gained a number of privileges, such as toll collection right and the right for a weekly market. Jan Bezdružický z Kolovrat became the town owner in the 16th century. Under his rule, a local fort was constructed. Jan died in 1604 and was buried in a tomb in the local church. The following owners, lords of Martinice, started mining of iron ore in Hamry. During the Thirty Years' War the city was devastated. In 1624 Albrecht von Wallenstein passed through the town. Leopold of Valderode bought the manor of Bystré in 1686. In 1707 the manor was sold again, this time in an auction. The new owner let built the town hall. During the rule of his son, Franz Rudolph, the construction of a new church started and spa Balda was founded in the neighborhood. As the counts of Hohenems died out in 1869, Bystré manor was passed to Emperor Franz Joseph I who owned it until the establishment of Czechoslovakia in 1918.
A legend says that in the period when Bystré formed a part of Svojanov manor the tax revenues from Bystré and surrounding villages were taken away to Svojanov. The money was carried by a collector – most probably by one of the town councilors. Once, the collector was attacked by a bear during his journey through the forest between Hartmanice and Svojanov. The collector succeeded to kill the bear with a spear. This event became the symbol of the town, being depicted on the coat of arms and the city seal.
Flag
The flag has dark red background with two wavy stripes – a black and a golden one. These stripes symbolize two streams between which Bystré was founded. The flag was introduced in 1998.
