The exhibition presents the history of the town from the early settlements in the area dating back from the 11th century to the 16th century when the area returned to the Crown. Visitors can see the first dukes of Oświęcim, Władysław and Eufrozyna. In 1179, Casimir the Just separated the castellany of Oświęcim from the jurisdiction of Cracow and gave it, together with Bytom and Siewierz, to Mieszko I Plątonogi, the duke of Racibórz. This was how he made the land dependent on Silesia. In the mid-13th century, Oświęcim was granted town rights under the German law. Its convenient location at the mouth of the Soła river made the town develop into an important commercial and economic centre. A marketplace was established as a place for the exchange of goods and annual fairs were organised, too. Oświęcim was known for the farming of fish which were floated in special ‘sadzawica’ crates to the Royal Castle in Krakow. Merchants were also trading in timber, cattle, spices, honey, wine and cloth. The town was granted important privileges related to salt, lead and the judiciary in the mid-13th century. There was a special measure of salt called ‘bałwan oświęcimski’ used in the town and numerous ‘prasoł’ or salt merchants operated there. The salt route ran from Małopolska to the south-eastern part of Silesia while the lead route ran from Krakow via Chrzanów to Cieszyn and Bielsko and on to Hungary. Additionally, the town had the right of the sword, i.e. the right to try and execute cases punishable by death. Executions were carried out by the town executioner on the castle hill or in the market square. The Duchy of Oświęcim was established around 1315 with Oświęcim as its capital. As a result of the feudal homage paid by Jan I the Scholastic in 1327, the Duchy of Oświęcim came under the influence of the Bohemian kings. Internal difficulties in Bohemia changed the position of Oświęcim. The Duchy was divided in 1445 and its Jan IV became its ruler. His rule led to the sale of the Duchy of Oświęcim to the Polish king Casimir IV Jagiellon in 1457. The incorporation of the Duchy of Oświęcim into the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland took place in the 16th century. The Oświęcim halerz displayed at the exhibition was produced in the local mint between 1445 and 1457. The timeline presents an overview of the key events related to the city from the 12th to the 16th centuries. A reproduction of Renaissance stove tiles found at the construction of the foundations of the Salesian monastery at the beginning of 1900 is a particularly interesting and little known part of the exhibition. The first two tiles depict St. George and St. Ladislaus, the third one depicts the municipal crest of Wrocław, the fourth one depicts the crest of Bielsk and the fifth shows crests of Lithuania, Silesia, Małopolska and Poland. Interactive educational games await the youngest visitors. They will allow them to learn through play about the history of our castle and customs of the court.