--- title: "The Greguše settlement near Makov: bell tower and dolmen" description: "Discover the kopanice settlement of Greguše in the Javorníky: the bell hidden in a dung heap from the soldiers, and the Dolmen života a smrti." url: "https://zpusteven.cz/en/osada-greguse" lang: "en" latitude: 49.3350506 longitude: 18.455894 --- ![Two log cottages of the Greguše settlement on the slope, a house with yellow window frames in the foreground](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7098.avif) A mountain settlement • the Javorníky • Makov # The Greguše settlement A place of stories, quiet and the memory of the land. - **Where:** the Javorníky, 5 km above Makov - **Access:** on foot from Melocík on the red route - **Landmarks:** the bell tower and Dolmen života a smrti - **By car:** only by arrangement with the owners ## A settlement fire could not wipe out On the slopes of the Javorníky, five kilometres above [Makov](https://zpusteven.cz/en/makov), lies Greguše – **one of the oldest settlements of the village**. It grew up as kopanice: fields won from the slopes, with cottages scattered beside them. The quiet of old Kysuce here comes with log cottages, a bell tower and the memory of the war. The waymarked path carries on to [Kasárne](https://zpusteven.cz/en/osada-kasarne). ![An aerial view of the Greguše settlement - log cottages and a wooden bell tower on a mountain meadow](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/DJI_0927.avif) The Greguše settlement from above - log cottages on a mountain meadow Why come here ### Kopanice with everything that belongs to them Scattered log cottages, pastures, quiet. Along with a **bell tower** and a dolmen - two structures that give the settlement a spiritual and a commemorative dimension. And views into the valleys of the Javorníky. What not to miss ### The bell tower, the dolmen and the memorial stone The bell tower was the only thing that **survived the burning of the settlement in 1944**. Dolmen života a smrti stands on the meadow above the settlement. Stop at the memorial stone too, with its call: stop, traveller. How to behave ### Respect the place and the people Greguše is a lived-in settlement. Respect the **privacy of its inhabitants** and the peace of the place; approach the places of remembrance with respect. Take stout footwear for the walk. ![Two log cottages of the Greguše settlement on the slope, a house with yellow window frames in the foreground](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7098.avif)![A log cottage of the Greguše settlement with a view into the Javorníky valley](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7095.avif) Log cottages of the Greguše settlement on the slope - and a log cottage with a view into the Javorníky valley. ![The wooden bell tower of the Greguše settlement from the path, a wooden cross on the door](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7113.avif) ![Looking up to the bell in the wooden tower, a rope running down from it](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7100.avif) ![A weathered wooden cross with white flower decoration on a wall of dark boards](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7101.avif) The bell tower from the path, the bell inside it and a weathered wooden cross with flower decoration. ![Dolmen života a smrti from above - the central stone and the circle of stones on the meadow above the settlement](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/DJI_0923.avif)![Dolmen života a smrti from the ground - the central stone in a circle of smaller stones, the ridges of the Javorníky behind](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7075.avif) Dolmen života a smrti from above and from the ground: the central stone in a circle of stones on the meadow above the settlement, with a view into the Javorníky valley. ## The story of the Greguše settlement From a bell buried in a dung heap, through the fire that left only the bell tower standing, to a native son who came back as a stone. Kopanice ### One of the oldest kopanice of Makov Greguše is among the **oldest kopanice settlements of Makov**. It grew up as kopanice - small fields dug and cleared out of the hillsides, with people building their cottages right beside them, so there was never a village green here. The Greguše settlement belonged to the Bytča estate and used to be part of the village of Petrovice, which had its own village head as early as 1312. The exact year Greguše was founded is not known; on the sheets of the Second Military Survey from the 19th century the settlement is recorded as **Gregussi**. Today 16 cottages stand here, mostly serving as holiday homes. The log cottages on their stone bases keep their authentic character to this day - the inheritance of earlier generations lives on in the everyday running of the cottages. ![Two log cottages of the Greguše settlement behind a wooden fence, a slope with a meadow on the left](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7119.avif) The bell tower ### The bell that was the settlement's voice Greguše is dominated by a wooden bell tower dedicated to **Our Lady of Sorrows**. It is among the rare religious buildings of Makov. The plain tower on a stone base became the natural centre of the settlement. Masses and gatherings of the faithful are still held at it. For decades the bell was the settlement's voice: it rang on feast days and at important events, and in moments of joy and grief in local families too. Anyone who wanted to know what was happening at Greguše listened to the bell. The settlement knew how to value its bell. When bells began to be requisitioned for the army in the First World War, the gazdas **buried their bell in a dung heap** for three months and so saved it from the soldiers. The present bell tower of 1997 replaced the original building of 1850. ![The wooden bell tower of the Greguše settlement with a cross on the roof, a log cottage behind it](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/DJI_0931.avif) The bell tower from above and the bell inside it - switch the view War and memory ### The fire left only the bell tower standing During the Second World War [partisans](https://zpusteven.cz/partisan-memorial-makov) hid in the mountains around and the people of Greguše **helped them**. When a Soviet aircraft dropped chests of weapons meant for the partisans near the settlement, the villagers took the contents into their cottages. German soldiers found the equipment - and **on 13 December 1944 they burned the whole settlement down**. One structure alone withstood the fire: the wooden bell tower. The day before, the same fate had met the neighbouring settlement of Magale. > “Zastav sa, pútnik, a spomeň si na obyvateľov osady Greguše…” > > the opening of the inscription on the memorial stone (in Slovak) Today Greguše serves not only as a destination for visitors but also as a place of quiet respect for the past. The memory of the burnt settlements of Greguše and Magale is also carried by a sculptural memorial designed in 1967 by Milan Greguš, a native of the place. - **two-family houses before the war:** 13 - **people lived in the settlement:** 50–100 - **building survived the fire:** 1 ![A memorial stone with the inscription “Zastav sa, pútnik…” on a meadow above the Javorníky valley](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7125.avif) The memorial stone above the valley invites the traveller to stop and remember the people of the settlement. ### Dolmen života a smrti A native son who came back as a stone **Milan Greguš (1934–2025)** was born at Greguše - an academic sculptor and **the first sculptor-conservator in Slovakia** (VŠVU, 1962). He restored precious monuments across Slovakia, co-founded the Kysucká galéria - and did not forget the country he came from. > “Som hrdý, že pochádzam z rodu, ktorý sa tu na Starom laze usadil a prežil stáročia.” > > Milan Greguš on the settlement he came from (in Slovak) His Dolmen života a smrti, the dolmen of life and death, stands on the meadow above the settlement: a central stone surrounded by a circle of stones. The work speaks of the tragedies of the war and the suffering of local people - and at the same time it stands for the **victory of life over death**. Today it is among the important places of remembrance in Makov. ![The central stone of Dolmen života a smrti, smaller stones around it on a meadow with a view over the country](https://d.zpusteven.cz/place/greguse/1280/IMG_7080.avif) Timeline ## The settlement's story in dates From the Bytča estate through two wars to a new bell tower. The year the settlement was founded is not known. 1. 1312 ### A village head at Petrovice Greguše used to be part of the village of Petrovice and belonged to the Bytča estate. The year the settlement was founded is not known - the oldest surviving mention of Petrovice comes from 1312, when a village head is recorded there. 2. 1850 ### The first bell tower A wooden bell tower stands in the settlement. The tower in its present form came almost a century and a half later. 3. 1914–1918 ### The bell in a dung heap To save the bell from wartime requisition, the gazdas **buried it in dung for three months** - and kept it. 4. 13 December 1944 ### The settlement burned The Germans burned Greguše for helping the partisans in hiding. **Only the bell tower** survived the fire. The day before, neighbouring Magale had burned. 5. 1967 ### A memorial by a native son The sculptor Milan Greguš designs a memorial to the burning of the settlements of Greguše and Magale. 6. 1997 ### A new bell tower The present building replaces the original bell tower of 1850. Visit ## Plan your walk to Greguše ### Where exactly it is #### In the mountain part of Makov Greguše lies in the mountain part of the village of **Makov** in the Javorníky Mountains, roughly 5 kilometres above the village. The walking route from the Melocík restaurant is part of the Beskydsko-javornícka magistrála. ##### Open in maps [Mapy.com](https://mapy.com/en/zakladni?x=18.455894&y=49.3350506&z=17&source=coor&id=18.455894,49.3350506) · [Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=49.3350506,18.455894) ##### Other places nearby [Brest u Papají](https://zpusteven.cz/en/brest-u-papaji) · [Chapel on Kršlisko](https://zpusteven.cz/chapel-on-krslisko) · [The source of the Kysuca](https://zpusteven.cz/en/pramen-kysuce) · [The Partisan](https://zpusteven.cz/partisan-memorial-makov) · [Veľký Javorník](https://zpusteven.cz/en/velky-javornik) Map of the area ### How to get here You walk to the settlement on the red route - which is also the Beskydsko-javornícka magistrála. The car belongs in the car park at Melocík. 1. 1 #### Melocík start · car park Park in the large car park by the Melocík restaurant on the main road between Bytča and Makov (navigation: [Google](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Re%C5%A1taur%C3%A1cia%20Meloc%C3%ADk%2C%20Makov) · [Waze](https://waze.com/ul?q=Re%C5%A1taur%C3%A1cia%20Meloc%C3%ADk%2C%20Makov&navigate=yes)) and set off along the red waymarks - it doubles as the Beskydsko-javornícka magistrála. 2. #### The Greguše settlement ~4 km · you are here A made-up forest road leads to log cottages, a wooden bell tower and Dolmen života a smrti. The settlement is lived in - walk through it quietly and with respect. 3. #### [Onward: Kasárne](https://zpusteven.cz/en/osada-kasarne) destination · 12 km The ridge carries on along the border as far as [Kasárne](https://zpusteven.cz/en/osada-kasarne) - the gateway to the highest summit of the Javorníky, [Veľký Javorník](https://zpusteven.cz/en/velky-javornik) (1,071.5 m). **Car park:** a large area by the Melocík restaurant ([Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=Re%C5%A1taur%C3%A1cia%20Meloc%C3%ADk%2C%20Makov) · [Waze](https://waze.com/ul?q=Re%C5%A1taur%C3%A1cia%20Meloc%C3%ADk%2C%20Makov&navigate=yes)). Driving right into the settlement only by arrangement or with the permission of the property owners; a second, less steep road climbs from Makov-Čierne on the yellow waymarks. You will find the whole route with a map on the page [Melocík - Greguše - Kasárne](https://zpusteven.cz/hiking/melocik-greguse-kasarne). ### What to know before you go #### Stout footwear You walk to the settlement on a waymarked mountain route - put on stout walking boots. #### The settlement's peace Greguše is a **living, inhabited settlement**. Respect the peace of the place and the privacy of its inhabitants. #### By car only by arrangement Driving in is possible **only by arrangement or with the permission of the property owners**. Park at the Melocík restaurant. #### Places of remembrance Dolmen života a smrti and the memorial stone are **places of remembrance** - approach them with respect. #### Nearest facilities The nearest is the **Melocík restaurant**, where you also park. Na závěr ## Doplňující info a test znalostí ### Rychlá rekapitulace **What happened to the Greguše settlement?** The Nazis burned it down on 13 December 1944 - the villagers had been hiding weapons dropped for the partisans. **Did anything of the settlement survive?** Yes, the bell tower survived. Its present form dates from 1997 and replaced an older bell tower of 1850. **What is the dolmen at Greguše?** A memorial work by the sculptor Milan Greguš called Dolmen života a smrti - a “stone gallery of sculptures” above the settlement. **Who was Milan Greguš?** The first sculptor-conservator in Slovakia (VŠVU 1962), a co-founder of the Kysucká galéria and the author of the 1967 sculptural memorial to the burning of Greguše and Magale. **Does anyone live in the settlement today?** The settlement now serves holiday-home owners - in place of the earlier 13 two-family houses with 50 to 100 inhabitants, about 16 houses stand here today. **How do I get to the Greguše settlement?** On foot from Makov, from Melocík, where a waymarked path leads through the settlement and on to Kasárne; the Beskydsko-javornícka magistrála passes along the ridge here. --- Source: [The Greguše settlement near Makov: bell tower and dolmen](https://zpusteven.cz/en/osada-greguse) - zPusteven.cz. 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