The castle consists of three main buildings: The Middle Castle (13th-14th century), the North Castle (15th century), the South Castle (19th –20th century) and the Tower (14th century). Noteworthy is the representative hall, known as the ‘Grodzka Chamber’, completely preserved in the Gothic style, with a ribbed vault supported by a single pillar. The courtyard contains the oldest 13th-century shaft and a 14th-century tower and walls – the only fragments remaining of the town's medieval fortifications. The town and castle developed during the reign of Casimir the Great, when the king placed Wieliczka under German law and thoroughly strengthened and rebuilt the castle. In the Poland of bygone days, salt mines and saltworks were called żupy solne, which were then referred to as white gold due to their high price. Kings or princes usually owned theseenterprises, which provided them with a very high income. Salt mining was usually the primary source of income for the court and the state. During the reign of Casimir the Great, income from salt mines accounted for a third of the state budget. In the 18th century, a garden was laid around the building, which is still an attraction of the castle today and a meeting and resting place for Wieliczka residents and tourists alike. For 650 years, the castle has been subjected to fires, wars, sieges and other catastrophes, which significantly influenced its present shape. The most severe damage was caused by bombing by Soviet troops in 1945. The renovation work was completed in 1992. Today, the restored castle is the seat of the Cracow Saltworks Museum. A tour of the castle includes a permanent archaeological exhibit and a collection of salt shakers. A Salt Festival is organised once a year. These events are held periodically in the castle courtyard. On 23 June 2013, the castle was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as an extension of the salt mine entry. The facility is certified as the Bicycle Friendly Place.