FichtelApp — Your digital companion for the Fichtelgebirge

The district of Wunsiedel did not want a digital showcase, but a real tool for locals as well as for tourists. One that provides tailor-made content along the entire user journey — from travel planning to the on-site experience to returning home. And one that actively strengthens the local economy by connecting tourists with the entire region, not just its highlights.

The real challenge: to bundle an enormous portfolio of tourist data, editorial content, events, and community offerings in such a way that the app remains intuitively usable for all target groups.

The FichtelApp is not a closed project, but an example of what emerges when all stakeholders truly collaborate. Regular workshops with methods like "How Might We?", the 6-3-5 method, and Problem Statement Maps help to think through new features together before they are built. We are not working FOR the district — we are working WITH them.

Sprint meetings and collaboration with the customer and, of course, real users via Miro and Figma led to an app that stands out not least because of the illustrations and animations. The FichtelApp relies on intuitive operation, clear structure, and understandable interaction possibilities. Additionally, the app and the terminal have an accessibility mode, which allows even easier and more barrier-free operation, thus making the Fichtelgebirge accessible to everyone.

The technical basis of the app is structured so that content from different sources can converge and be meaningfully displayed. Flutter provides the cross-platform framework of the app, allowing native applications for iOS and Android with a single codebase. This means shorter development cycles, fewer sources of error, and early demos for the customer.

The editorial backbone is formed by the CMS Strapi, through which articles are created, content is curated, and POI are directly played. Additionally, data from the Social Knowledge Graph (the central database for tourist information in the Fichtelgebirge) flows into the app for events, tours, and sights. This creates current content - without double editorial effort. Integrations with VGN and Radelland Bayern additionally enable navigation to the next POI, by public transport or bicycle.

The Fichtel community connects makers with the region: In the idea factory, projects can be shared and like-minded people can be found in the Fichtel meeting place. The Fichtel info gathers what counts in everyday life — emergency pharmacies, schools, offices, family offers. The new bulletin board allows you to upload your own content without going through the editorial team. Gamification elements in the highlight radar further motivate you to rediscover your own region and specifically strengthen the local economy. Those who always want to stay up-to-date use push notifications for news, hazard alerts, and community content.

The Highlight Radar is the core of the app: an interactive map with events, tours, restaurants, and sights — filterable, with a split-screen view, and designed to make decisions easy. However, over 3,000 points of interest and around 500 daily available events pose a unique challenge: Where do you start? Since summer 2026, there has been a feature that solves precisely this problem: the Day Planner. Based on a few inputs, it generates a complete plan in seconds, tailored to interests, travel readiness, weather, and time of day. If an entry is removed, the system automatically suggests suitable alternatives.

The district of Wunsiedel has established a humorous figure for the Fichtelgebirge with Thomas Zeitler as 'Werner,' and it certainly couldn't be missing in the app. However, the digital Werner in the app is not a static figure. Using Rive, animations with smooth transitions and natural movements were developed, making Werner a real companion through the app. Werner has now also made the leap to the big screen. The app can be found on 8 digital FichtelSteles at public places in the district of Wunsiedel. There, Werner interactively guides through the menu. An anchor point for everyone who is not yet quite confident with digital touchpoints.

Since the beginning of 2024, he has been joined by Kristina: female support for Werner and the makers of the region.

While the federal funding expires in June 2026, the district of Wunsiedel will subsequently cooperate with the tourism center of the Fichtelgebirge. The data basis, reach, and requirements continue to grow steadily, and the FichtelApp will be expanded to 40 instead of the previous 17 municipalities. In order not only to manage tourism on site, but also to actively shape it, solutions are already being developed today to measure the utilization of mountain bike trails and parking spaces in real time and to specifically point tourists to alternatives. These functions are also intended to be integrated into the app in the long term.

The district of Wunsiedel aims to enhance the quality of life, living, and work in the region and position the Fichtelgebirge as an attractive place for professionals, families, and tourists. With "Space for Doers" ("Freiraum für Macher") and the qualification as a Smart City model region, it has proven: Digital innovation and regional identity are not opposites — they inspire each other.