Umlenkens

Umlenkens is a small municipality in the fictional country of Veridia, situated in the Umlen Valley along the Lir River. The municipality covers 28.4 square kilometers and has a population of about 2,400 people as of 2023. The administrative seat is the village center, where the town hall and several municipal offices are located. The name Umlenkens derives from the Middle High German umlenken, meaning to deflect or redirect, a reference to historical river bends and trade routes that once passed nearby.

The area is characterized by gently rolling farmland with patches of deciduous forest in the surrounding hills. The local economy combines agriculture—predominantly cereals and dairy—with small manufacturing and services. Tourism focuses on countryside walking routes and regional heritage sites.

The first documentary mention of Umlenkens dates to 1265. It developed from a rural hamlet into a municipality during the 19th century, with the construction of mills along the Lir River and later infrastructural improvements in the 20th century.

Notable landmarks include the Gothic-influenced St. Nikolaus Church (founded in 1453) and the restored Umlenkens Mill. The annual Umlenkentag festival celebrates local crafts and harvest traditions. The community supports a regional dialect and amateur theatre.

Umlenkens is governed by an elected council of 12 members and a mayor. It lies on regional roads with the nearest railway station about 12 kilometers away and has basic educational and healthcare facilities, including a primary school and a small clinic.