diff --git a/tests/_functional/__init__.py b/tests/_functional/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5b9894
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_functional/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+''' functional tests for ordr2 '''
+
+import os.path
+import pytest
+import transaction
+import webtest
+
+from .. import APP_SETTINGS, create_users
+
+
+# some path mangling to get the path to passlib.ini
+currrent_dir = os.path.dirname(__file__)
+ordr2_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(currrent_dir))
+passlib_config_path = os.path.join(ordr2_dir, 'passlib.ini')
+
+
+WEBTEST_SETTINGS = APP_SETTINGS.copy()
+WEBTEST_SETTINGS.update({
+    'pyramid.includes': ['pyramid_jinja2'],
+    'passlib.config': passlib_config_path
+    })
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(scope='module')
+def testapp():
+    ''' fixture for using webtest '''
+    from ordr2.models.meta import Base
+    from ordr2.models import get_tm_session, Role
+    from ordr2 import main
+
+    app = main({}, **WEBTEST_SETTINGS)
+    testapp = webtest.TestApp(app)
+
+    session_factory = app.registry['dbsession_factory']
+    engine = session_factory.kw['bind']
+    Base.metadata.create_all(engine)
+
+    with transaction.manager:
+        # set up test data here
+        dbsession = get_tm_session(session_factory, transaction.manager)
+        create_users(dbsession)
+
+        yield testapp
+
+    Base.metadata.drop_all(engine)
diff --git a/tests/_functional/layout_and_pages.py b/tests/_functional/layout_and_pages.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7b8bf73
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/_functional/layout_and_pages.py
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+''' tests for the common layout and simple (static)'''
+
+from . import testapp
+
+
+def test_page_welcome_unauthenticated(testapp):
+    ''' test the welcome page for a unauthenticated user '''
+    testapp.reset()
+
+    response = testapp.get('/')
+
+    # basic content test
+    assert 'Ordr | Welcome' in response
+    assert '<!-- No logged in user -->' in response
+    # test that no sections are highlightet
+    assert '<li class="nav-item active">' not in response
+
+
+def test_faq_unauthenticated(testapp):
+    ''' test the faq page for a unauthenticated user '''
+    testapp.reset()
+
+    response = testapp.get('/faq')
+
+    # basic content test
+    assert 'Ordr | FAQ' in response
+    assert '<!-- No logged in user -->' in response
+    # test that the first section links and highlighting
+    li_one, li_two = response.html.find_all('li', class_='nav-item')
+    assert 'active' in li_one['class']
+    assert li_one.find('a').text == 'FAQs'
+    assert 'active' not in li_two['class']
+    assert li_two.find('a').text == 'Register'