This park appeared in the middle of XVI century. Historical documents showed that in 1553 Ferenc and Gaspar Drugets attacked the Pavlican monastery and took possession of its land. In 1587 Pavlican monks left Uzhgorod and monastic garden. Judging by this name, since the middle of the XVI century former garden of Paulicians used as a place where the lords of the castle spent hunting. In official description of 1691 Menagerieis mentioned, but as a place where for a long time there were no animals. People harvested hay, nourish nuts, apples and pears there for the needs of the castle. Since one of the last rulers of the castle – Count Miklos Bercheni – left Uzhgorod, Menagerie passed into the possession of the treasury, which is occasionally rented out separate parts of the park. In 1858 Uzhgorod gymnasium students arranged a playground there. In the early 70s of the XIX century, this area was called Secheni park after the famous public and political figure. That time can be called the beginning of its heyday: among century-old trees a railway stop, hotel with restaurant and dance floor were built and Uzhgorod shooting range began operating. In 1903there was a fire in the park, which destroyed all the buildings. New restaurant and hotel were built there by local funds. 3 July 1904 was the grand opening of the renewed park Secheni. At the time Czechoslovakia the stadium of Sports Club “Rus” situated in Castle Park. Then the city pool appeared in the park, which became a favorite place for summer holidays in Uzhgorod for years. A peculiar visiting card of the park is also a children’s railway, opened in August 1947 and legally “fixed” by the Order of the Minister of Railways of the USSR № 725/93 since 19 November 1947.
