The story of this site starts from the times of old Vilnius when it was called Radvilų Lukiškės, later known as Zakret (Закрет). At that time 'twas a residence of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and voivode of Vilnius Mikołaj "the Black" Radziwiłł. There in suburb of Vilnius he has given a shelter to Calvinists prior to their relocation to the old town of capital. Son of Mikołaj Radziwiłł turned into catholic and donated the mansion along with the woods to Jesuits. Thus it was called Jesuit Lukiškės. Running their trades Jesuits have built a lavish manor by the project of Johann Christoph Glaubitz. In 1773 after liquidation of the Jesuit order this manor was given to Vilnius bishop Ignacy Jakub Massalski and used for educational purposes. In 1794 after bishops death this manor was owned by few including governor-general Levin August Bennigsen in 1812.

Then Alexander I of Russia used this manor during his one month stay Vilnius. He then brought this manor along with the woods from Benningsen for 12000 ducat. Reaching Vilnius Napoleon's army took this manor for their hospital, which was burned along with the injured soldiers. After the war with Napoleon this manor was left abandoned, and in 1855 'twas demolished. Throughout 1855-1857 this site has been used as a military polygon, that later was designed into park. It was then that Zakret was first used as a leisure. At the entrance to the park there is a chapel, built in 1800 by Nikolai Vasilyevich Repnin, the first governor of Vilnius. This small neo-gothic chapel-mausoleum contained his wife's Natalia Alexandrovna Repnina remains after her departure.

- V.D.W.V.