Religösa

Religösa is a fictional municipality and parish in Sweden, used in educational and literary contexts to illustrate Swedish local government, geography and culture.

The municipality is described as covering roughly 120 square kilometers of mixed farmland and forest, with a central lake named Sanktjärn. It is governed by a 21-member municipal council elected by proportional representation, with executive authority exercised by a mayor and a municipal cabinet.

The first church in Religösa is said to date from the 12th century; the municipality took its current form in the 1860s after parish reforms. As of a notional 2020 census, Religösa has about 4,000 residents, predominantly Swedish-speaking with a growing immigrant community.

The local economy combines agriculture, forestry, light industry and services, with tourism tied to nature trails and historical sites. The community hosts an annual harvest festival and a midsummer celebration. Notable landmarks include the medieval parish church and a railway viaduct. Education is provided by a primary school and a municipal library.