Rigolen

Rigolen is a municipality in the Veridian Highlands of Veridia. It sits along the Rigolen River, about 60 kilometers north of the capital. The municipality covers 68 square kilometers and has a population of roughly 12,800 as of 2023. It comprises three administrative divisions: Central, Lower Mill, and Ridgewood. The local government is led by a mayor and a nine-member council elected for four-year terms.

Rigolen's landscape consists of rolling hills, deciduous forests, and patchwork farms. The climate is temperate, with mild summers and cool winters. Precipitation is distributed evenly, supporting agriculture and forestry in the surrounding areas.

The town's roots reach back to the 11th century, when Rigolen appeared in charter records as a market village. It gained municipal status in the 14th century and expanded during the 19th century with flour milling and textile workshops. The arrival of the railway in 1882 linked Rigolen to regional markets, reinforcing its role as an agricultural hub. Municipal reforms in the late 20th century consolidated neighboring communities.

The economy centers on farming, small-scale manufacturing, and local services. Dairy production and cereals are major crops, supported by a cooperative and several family-owned workshops in woodworking and textiles. Rigolen is served by a regional rail line and an arterial road linking to larger towns.

Culturally, Rigolen hosts an annual harvest festival featuring regional foods, crafts, and folk music. The town preserves a historic center with a Romanesque church, timber-framed houses, and a 19th-century town hall. Local dialects and traditions reflect regional Veridian heritage.

Notable landmarks include St. Jakob's Church, a Grade II-listed structure with medieval foundations; the Old Mill, preserved as a museum; and the Town Hall, rebuilt after a fire in the early 1900s.