Lazy pod Makytou: Javorníky, Čertov and Cultural Heritage

Javorníky and the Biela voda Valley

Lazy pod Makytou lies at the foot and on the slopes of the Javorníky Mountains and stretches 14 km along the Biela voda Valley – from Lúky to the Czech-Moravian border. The municipality thus combines a distinctive landscape with winter sports, cycling, nature experiences and regional history. Part of the municipality lies within the CHKO Kysuce Protected Landscape Area; this also includes the Čertov Nature Reserve.

Čertov provides a habitat for brown bears, Eurasian lynxes and wolves. The protected landscape includes beech and beech-fir flowering forests, ravine forests with lime trees and maples, as well as springs in the hilly landscapes. If, during your trip to Slovakia, you want to experience nature not merely as a backdrop but as a tangible part of the destination, Lazy pod Makytou offers a clear thematic focus for this.

Skiing, Cross-Country Skiing, Cycling and Wellness

At the SKI Čertov ski resort, five ski lifts serve 5.4 km of slopes. The resort is located at an elevation of 600–900 m above sea level and has seven downhill runs. The complex also includes the Alpinka ski school, a ski equipment rental service and a ski service centre. For cross-country skiing, Ski Čertov Javorníky offers 15 km of cross-country trails.

There is also a clearly described cycling route: Route 5314 runs through the entire municipality of Lazy pod Makytou to the Čertov recreational area. It is 15.6 km long, marked in green and designated as a leisure route; it is an asphalt route. In Čertov, the Wellness & Spa Hotel Čertov*** offers beer baths as a wellness experience.

Churches, History and the Kopaničiarsky Character

The Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary in Lazy pod Makytou dates from 1801. It houses bells from 1721 that came from an earlier wooden church. The Evangelical church was built in 1846–1859 on the site of an older Toleration church and features elements of Neo-Romanesque architecture. A baptismal font from 1801 and a bell from 1802 have been preserved there.

Lazy pod Makytou has preserved its Kopaničiarsky character over the centuries. It is associated with cattle and sheep farming as well as arable farming. In the House of History, you can see related evidence of everyday life and local tradition: folk costumes, household vessels, a spinning wheel, a loom, old skis, flails and historical photographs. The local cultural calendar also includes the recitation competition “Kýčerského spievanky”, which commemorates the poet Pavol Kokeš-Kýčerský.

Mladoňov: A Short Themed Trail with a Historical Focus

The Mladoňov educational trail is a self-guided, linear hiking and cycling trail that runs in one direction and can be used year-round. It is 1.1 km long and has an elevation gain of 42 m. Including the stops, the route takes about 45 minutes and includes seven stations. Its subject is the burning of the Mladoňov settlement by fascists during the Second World War.

The educational trail begins on the main road at the turn-off to the Mladoňov settlement, next to the war memorial and a bus stop. The Mladoňov war memorial is a national cultural monument. For orientation to Čertov, it is also noted that the area can be reached by bus from Púchov railway station or from the stop by the post office in the direction of Lazy pod Makytou or Čertov; from there, it is a 300 m walk to Chata Alpina.

More Destinations

More destinations: Lednické Rovne, Nimnica, Horovce, Púchov, Lednica, Mojtín, Zubák, Kvašov.

To the overarching travel overview: Púchov.