Church of St. Katarina

The present-day branch church of St. Katarina at Bela was originally the parish church and the seat of the first vicariate, first mentioned in medieval sources in 1475. Based on architectural features, experts date the original church to the 13th century, to the transitional period from Romanesque to Gothic. In 1532, it was allegedly set on fire by the Turks, but it was not completely destroyed, as it was already repaired 13 years later. In the 17th century, it was vaulted and a bell tower was added. Next to the church there was also a parish house (wooden until 1835, then stone) and the old cemetery, which was abandoned in 1817.

In 1880, a strong earthquake severely damaged the church. Although its renovation was initially planned, the damage was so extensive that it had to be demolished in 1926. On its site, a community hall and the Chapel of St. Katarina were built; from the church, only the western part was preserved, i.e. the choir gallery with the bell tower. In 1916, two smaller silver bells were taken from the church for military purposes.

During World War II, the Germans used the chapel and the hall as a storage facility, and the large bell was transported to St. Elizabeta in Pohorje. After the war, the hall began to be used for games, while the chapel served as a stage and dressing rooms. In 1955, the hall and chapel were converted into a gymnasium, which was later abandoned. In 2005, through a denationalization procedure, the St. Katarina was returned to the Parish of St. Barbara, which began preparatory work for its restoration.