The history of Kazimierz Dolny dates back to the 11th century, when on one
of the local hills there was a Benedictine settlement called Wietrzna Gora. In
1181, Prince Casimir II the Just handed the settlement to Norbertine nuns from
Kraków’s district of Zwierzyniec. The nuns changed its name to Kazimierz, in
honor of the prince. For the first time, the name Kazimierz appears in
chronicles in 1249. Later on, the adjective Dolny (Lower) was added, to
distinguish the town from the Jewish town Kazimierz - now a district of Kraków.
In the early 14th century, the village became a royal possession, and King
Władysław I
