The major part of the parent substrate of the soils in the West Karpathians is composed of sedimentary rocks. In the plains, loess sediments, eolian sand, and alluvial sediments dominate, while in the area with undulating topography, the weathering products of different rocks are transported by the process of solifluction displacement. For the classification of Pleistocene periglacial formations, different schemes by different authors (e.g., Priehausser, Schilling, Semmel etc.) have been proposed and we agree with the proposal of Schilling. The so-called singular sequence developed in the West Karpathians is as follows. 1. (1) The basic sequence consists of 1–3 layers (mainly solifluction debris) with a total thickness of 20–250 cm. 2. (2) The main sequence, usually 1 or 2 layers (mainly mud flows), is 30–140 cm thick. 3. (3) The covering sequence of solifluction debris is 10–80 cm thick. In many cases the combination of solifluction debris and the main mud flows is encountered. The covering sequence is relatively rare and is encountered only in extreme chemical rocks (quartz rock, dolomite). These layers mostly represent the soil horizons. In the upper layer, 1 or 2 soil horizons are developed. The layers of slope sediments at 700–1,200 m above sea level are very well developed. The soils at higher elevations are more deeply developed than those of the soils situated at lower levels. Over 200 soil samples were obtained from 33 main profiles which were analysed granulometrically, chemically and mineralogically. Forty two samples were analysed for pollen-grain content. This work has shown very characteristic results. The granulometric and chemical analyses have shown marked differences among the layers, and mineralogical study has proved the heterogeneity of the profile. The determination of the clay-mineral associations has shown the following regularity: the soils with periglacial layers, developed from sedimentary rocks, have very small or no differences in the whole profile between different horizons or layers. In the case of periglacial layers developed from magmatic or metamorphic rocks, there are more marked differences only between the layers. Differences in the layers are usually in the representation of mixed-layer and interstratified minerals. The result of the pollen-grain analysis, mainly from mud flows, showed a greater frequency of pollen-grain occurrence in which tree pollens dominate. The samples of the basic debris of stamens are poor in sporomorphs and in the number of the pollen trees (pine and birch). There are many possible ways of interpreting the alignment of the periglacial layers. This work has emphasised the necessity for the revision of some soil genetical aspects and of the soil ecological (site conditions) significance of the study of periglacial formations.