Editing Wieliczka (section)

===Medieval times===
The first settlers were probably from the [[Celts|Celtic]] tribes. In later years they were driven out by the West Slavic or [[Lechites|Lechitic]] clans. The importance of mining deposits arose after the capital of Poland was moved from [[Gniezno]] to [[Kraków]] by [[Casimir I the Restorer]] in the 11th century. However, further development of the mining practices was abruptly halted by the [[Mongol invasion of Europe|Mongol invasion]], which destroyed Kraków and its surroundings in the 13th century. The area was subsequently populated with migrating [[Germans]], who called the settlement ''Gross Salz'' (English: Grand/Great Salt) and from which the old Polish name ''Wielka Sól'' was derived. With time, the name evolved into Wieliczka, although the name Wielka Sól remained in official use, particularly in royal seals and documents.

After the 1252 discovery of large salt and potassium deposits across southern Poland, the extraction of salt began on a much broader scale. In the year 1289, [[Henryk IV Probus]], then Lord of Kraków, issued a document authorising brothers Jescho and Isenbold to expand the town. Duke and future king Premislaus II granted Wieliczka [[town privileges]] in 1290.