The church has an atypical north-south orientation (tower - shrine). The probable cause was the terrain itself, which did not allow to maintain the typical orientation of the sacral building. The subsoil of the church is quite rocky, especially in the area of the sanctuary, under which there is a large cavity or cave, which has not been thoroughly explored to this day. The massive tower of the temple was originally finished with a pyramidal roof and covered with shingles. In r. 1738 was rebuilt. The entrance to the temple was provided by three entrances in the lower part of the tower - the main larger portal was located on the north side. Two smaller opposite each other on the east and west walls of the tower. The church was single-nave, the nave was divided in thirds by two pillars on both sides into three vertical fields. The triumphal arch, set on two massive pillars, formed a majestic transition to the elevated presbytery. The presbytery had a rectangular shape, characteristic of all monastic churches. The end of the sanctuary was rectangular, today only a fragment of one of the two windows has been preserved.Church ruins with a tower and the remains of the southern part of the wing of the monastery building have been preserved from the monastery complex. The remaining parts of the complex were dismantled in the past into building material. Since 1995, the ruins have been taken care of by Katarínka civic association.

According to archaeological research, a stone Gothic chapel was located in the forests of the Little Carpathians on a rocky hill above the Dubovský brook at the beginning of the 15th century. In 1618, the Franciscan monastery was founded by issuing a charter by Count Krištof Erdődy. A year later, the monastery was inhabited by monks. The builder of the monastery was Pietro Spazzo and the monastery complex was built in the early Baroque style with late Gothic elements.

During the uprising of Juraj Rákóczi I, the monastery was looted in 1645 and set on fire by the insurgents. In 1646, Gabriel Erdődy had the buildings rebuilt and restored. The church was extended to a larger temple. In 1663, however, the monastery did not resist the Turkish invasion and was later looted by the imperial troops, who murdered the hiding nobles here. The monastery was later damaged in 1683 by Thőkoly's troops. In 1697 there was a clash between the people and the Liechtenstein army, which wanted to recruit people here.

By order of Emperor Joseph II. in 1786 the monastery of St. Catherine abolished, like many others, who did not engage in charitable or pedagogical activities. The monks had to leave this place, the inventory was taken over by the surrounding monasteries and villages and the building began to fall into disrepair. In the meantime, in 1793, the family tombs under the church were looted. Count Jozef Erdődy still tried to save the abandoned monastery, who bought the buildings, but did not prevent their further disintegration.

In the second half of the 20th century, the monastery fell into oblivion; historians Hadrián Radváni and especially Jozef Šimončič try to cross its history. In 1995, the "Order of St. Catherine ”to save the monastery. In 1996, conservation work began on the walls of the monastery. In the years 1997 - 2000, archaeological research and conservation of the foundations of the Baroque chapel in front of the church took place.

In order to prevent the further release and collapse of Katarínka, the Katarínka project was created, which in the form of summer youth camps in the medieval spirit works on the preservation and reconstruction of the remains of the former church and monastery. Comprehensive archaeological, historical, monumental and geophysical research is underway.

There are no myths available.

The ruins are freely accessible, but access to the tower is limited.Tower opening hours

https://www.katarinka.sk/klastor-katarinka/veza/

https://www.hrady-zamky.sk/katarinka/