This little memo was opened thanks to the help of the public organization “Pannonia” and the Consulate General of Hungary in Uzhgorod. The Grand opening of this romantic monument took place on December 14, 2015. This mini-sculpture became the 26th masterpiece of the sculptor Mikhail Kolodka in the regional center of Transcarpathia.
The sculpture shows how the lovers froze for a moment before the kiss. This romantic sculpture is located in the very center of Uzhgorod on the Orthodox square embankment near the Hungarian Consulate (GPS: 48.620900, 22.298636)
Miklos Bercheni and Kristina Chaki are a symbol of struggle Hungarian people for their independence. Miklos Bercheni became the owner at a young age Uzhgorod castle, which he inherited after the death of the last male member of the Druget family. His first wife came from this noble family. At the age of 22, young Miklos became a widower. Three children were left half-orphaned. A few years later, fate brought together Miklos Bercheni with Kristina Chaki-also a widow. Before meeting Miklos, Kristina Chaki married twice, but both times she was widowed. Miklos Bercheni was half her age. Despite this age difference, love reigned in their family. Kristina was the daughter of state judge Istvan Bercheni and came from a rich family. Besides, despite her age, she was a real beauty.
After the suppression of the uprising that he led Ferenc II Rakoczy, Miklos Bercheni, who was an active participant in the Hungarian struggle for independence, was declared a traitor, so he and his wife were forced to leave their residence in Uzhgorod in 1710 and flee abroad. Miklos and Kristina did not return home and died in what is now Turkey.
Nadezhda Popadyuk tells an interesting legend about this mini-sculpture in her book “Uzhgorod – the world capital of mini-sculptures”. According to legend, in 1695 Uzhgorod castle, which at that time was owned by the wife of Kristina Chaki and miklosha Bercheni, was visited by a delegation from Japan. In addition to resolving political issues related to the development of trade relations with the Netherlands (at that time, Japan severed all ties with the Western world and implemented a policy of sakoku – isolation of the country from Europe, the Netherlands was an exception), Japanese diplomats gave Japanese cherry seedlings to the hospitable family. They also told about the ancient Japanese tradition of Hanami or admiring the blooming Sakura, which, in the opinion of the Japanese to prolong life to a hundred years.
The owners of Uzhgorod castle liked this custom very much and they also later began to spend time admiring the cherry trees (rested under the blooming trees, enjoying light drinks, music and games). After the defeat of the liberation army after the war of 1711 Miklos Bercheni chose the fate of an exile and together with Christina he settled in distant Turkey, they left mini-sculptures on the embankment as a memento of themselves Uzhgorod in front of your favorite Flower Park (modern Botanical garden).
Mini-sculpture by Miklos Bercheni and Kristina Chaka 
Mini-sculpture by Miklos Bercheni and Kristina Chaka 
Mini-sculpture by Miklos Bercheni and Kristina Chaka 
Mini-sculpture by Miklos Bercheni and Kristina Chaka
