Lazy pod Makytou lies at the foot and on the slopes of the Javorníky Mountains and stretches for 14 km along the Biela voda valley, from Lúky to the Czech-Moravian border. When planning your trip, you can choose from several areas of focus: a protected landscape, cycling and winter activities, and traces of local history. The route lengths, types of activities, and historical sites give you specific points of reference for tailoring your stay to your interests.

Landscape and wildlife around Čertov

Part of the municipality lies within the Kysuce Protected Landscape Area (CHKO Kysuce), which also includes the Čertov Nature Reserve. It provides habitat for brown bears, Eurasian lynxes, and wolves. The protected habitats there include flowering beech and beech-fir forests, ravine forests with linden and maple trees, and springs in the hilly landscape. If nature and scenery are priorities when choosing your destination, Čertov is the main protected area in Lazy pod Makytou. Alongside the animal species mentioned, the forest and spring areas give the nature theme its own distinct character.

Cycling route and nature trail: different scales

Cycling route 5314 runs through the entire municipality to the Čertov recreation area. It is 15.6 km long, marked in green, and designated as a leisure route on asphalt. The Mladoňov nature trail offers a shorter, differently designed excursion: it is self-guided, linear, and runs in one direction; it can be used on foot and by bike year-round. It is 1.1 km long, with an elevation gain of 42 m. The route, including its stops, is estimated to take about 45 minutes, and has seven stops in total. This makes it easier to plan the short nature trail, while the cycling route’s total length and surface offer a different kind of outing.

The nature trail starts on the main road, at the turnoff to the Mladoňov settlement, next to the war memorial and a bus stop. The trail focuses on the burning of the Mladoňov settlement by fascists during the Second World War. The Mladoňov war memorial is a national cultural monument. Its historical theme, seven stops, and manageable length make the nature trail a distinct way to explore the area’s history.

Winter activities and seasonal planning

SKI Čertov is located at an altitude of 600 to 900 m above sea level. Five ski lifts serve 5.4 km of slopes, and the ski area has seven runs. The resort also includes the Alpinka ski school, ski equipment rental, and a ski service. Availability may vary by season; check the operating status for your chosen dates before travelling. For cross-country skiing, Ski Čertov Javorníky offers 15 km of trails. Lazy pod Makytou therefore offers a choice of downhill and cross-country skiing as distinct winter activities.

Churches, everyday history, and local culture

The Roman Catholic Church of the Virgin Mary in Lazy pod Makytou dates back to 1801. It preserves bells from 1721 that came from an earlier wooden church. The Evangelical church was built between 1846 and 1859 on the site of an older Toleration church and features Neo-Romanesque elements. A baptismal font from 1801 and a bell from 1802 have been preserved there. The construction dates, predecessor buildings, and preserved objects each add a different historical perspective to the area’s past.

Over the centuries, Lazy pod Makytou has retained its Kopaničiarsky character, associated with cattle and sheep farming as well as crop cultivation. The House of History displays traditional clothing, household vessels, a spinning wheel, and a loom, as well as old skis, flails, and historical photographs. The recitation competition “Kýčerského spievanky” is held in Lazy pod Makytou in memory of the poet Pavol Kokeš-Kýčerský. These themes complement the churches and nature trail with insights into rural life and local traditions of remembrance.

Getting to Čertov and wellness

Čertov can be reached by bus from Púchov railway station or from the stop near the post office, in the direction of Lazy pod Makytou or Čertov. From there, it is a 300 m walk to Chata Alpina. Bus times can change, so check the timetable before setting off. In Čertov, Wellness & Spa Hotel Čertov*** offers beer baths as a wellness experience. Reservations and availability may change; check them before making plans.

Discover more destinations: Dolné Kočkovce, Nimnica, Lednické Rovne, Lednica, Mojtín, Lysá Pod Makytou, Zubák, Dolná Breznica.

For the overview of the wider area: Púchov.