Fire at 14th-century Gothic Slovak Castle Krasna Horka

As Slovakia focuses on general elections, Krasna Horka, a monumental gothic castle in the eastern part of the euro-zone nation, burned down after allegedly catching fire from illegal burning of dry grass, officials said Saturday.

“For many this sad event at Krasna Horka has cast a huge shadow over today’s elections,” outgoing Prime Minister Iveta Radicova said in a live television interview commenting on exit polls of parliamentary elections.

The 14th-century national monument, whose name means “beautiful little hill,” towers over the village of Krasnohorske Podhradie near the eastern Slovak town of Roznava.