A new ice-skating rink at Tuškanac

After the opening of an ice-skating rink at the Square of ban Josip Jelačić, fans of ice-skating will now also have an additional opportunity to ice-skate at the temporary open-air ice-skating rink at Tuškanac. Visitors at this temporary ice-skating rink can also expect an array of concurrent entertainment and educational programmes for children, as well as adults.

In addition to the ice-skating rink at the main city square of ban Josip Jelačić, a temporary ice-skating rink at Tuškanac has been open to the public since mid-December. This ice-skating rink, located in the wooded part of town above the Tuškanac city garage, also features daily concurrent entertainment and educational programmes for children as well as adults.

Moreover, adults will have an opportunity to attend ice-skating classes, organized for the first time just for them. However, if there are still those who do not dare to tread on the ice, they will be kept busy and entertained, nonetheless, with a warm bun and beverage in hand, watching their friends attempt to skate on the ice.

The beginnings of ice-skating in Zagreb date as far back as 1836, when the first skaters began frequenting the lake in Maksimir Park. The first to start ice-skating there was merchant and patron of the arts, Ladislav Beluš, who opened the first artificial ice-skating rink in Zagreb. Originally, it was located south of what was then University Square (nowadays the Square of Marshal Tito), in the vicinity of the Croatian National Theatre building, which is positioned in the middle of the square.

Needing help with construction of the ice-skating rink, Ladislav Beluš hired the famous city surveyor, Milan Lenucci, who had designed Zagreb’s most beautiful parks. These green surfaces connect the seven squares of downtown Zagreb and the shape they form is known as Lenucci’s Green Horseshoe. Shortly after the construction of the ice-skating rink in Maksimir, the first ice-skating club was founded, which was then followed, almost immediately, with organized competitions. Later, the ice-skating rink was moved further south, to the plot at Marulić Square, where the secession building of the old University Library is nowadays located. The first ice-hockey game in the city was played there in 1894.