Casimir I the Restorer
There are two legends about the founding of Piekary, according to one it was founded in the late 10th century, and according to the other it was founded by Polish ruler Casimir I the Restorer in 1041. The area formed part of Poland after the establishment of the state in the 10th century. Under the Latinized name of "Pecare", the settlement was mentioned in a document by the bishop of Kraków Paweł of Przemankowo from 1277. The name is of Polish origin. It derives from the word "piekarz" (meaning "baker"), referring to possible bakers baking bread here for the nearby city of Bytom or from the word "pieczara" (meaning "cavern"), as caverns were supposedly created here as a result of exploitation of ore.