Fahrst

Fahrst is a fictional municipality used in German-language urban planning case studies and worldbuilding exercises. It is designed to illustrate challenges facing small towns in modern Europe, including population aging, housing needs, and sustainable development. Because it is not a real place, Fahrst appears with standardized demographic and economic data in academic examples.

Geographically, Fahrst is positioned in a temperate lowland valley with a meandering river that runs along the eastern edge of the historic core. The town comprises an old town district dating to the medieval period and a newer industrial and residential quarter laid out in the 20th century. Its climate is temperate with moderate precipitation.

Historically, Fahrst developed around crafts and textiles, later diversifying into light manufacturing and logistics. In planning simulations, it has a population around 8,500 residents and a mixed economy with public services, small manufacturers, and retail. Local government is a council-led system with a mayor and participatory budgeting features used in exercises to study governance.

In culture and infrastructure terms, Fahrst commonly features a riverside promenade, a central square, and a station on a regional rail line that connects to nearby towns. The fictional municipality is often used to illustrate transit-oriented development, brownfield redevelopment, and community-engaged planning. While imaginary, the Fahrst example helps compare policy outcomes across different scenarios.