diff --git a/python/.gitignore b/python/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9638ef2a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+doc/_build/
diff --git a/python/doc/_templates/globaltoc.html b/python/doc/_templates/globaltoc.html
index ada0d1f6..e186857e 100644
--- a/python/doc/_templates/globaltoc.html
+++ b/python/doc/_templates/globaltoc.html
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@
 <ul>
   <li><a href="{{ pathto('index') }}">Home</a></li>
   <li><a href="{{ pathto('install') }}">Install</a></li>
-  <li><a href="{{ pathto('api') }}">API Documentation</a></li>
+  <li><a href="{{ pathto('api') }}">High level API</a></li>
+  <li><a href="{{ pathto('capi') }}">Low level API</a></li>
 </ul>
 <b>External Links:</b>
 <ul>
diff --git a/python/doc/_templates/sidebarintro.html b/python/doc/_templates/sidebarintro.html
index f8f70cb3..b7c8801f 100644
--- a/python/doc/_templates/sidebarintro.html
+++ b/python/doc/_templates/sidebarintro.html
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 <h3>deltachat {{release}}</h3>
 <p>
-  Bindings for <a href="https://delta.chat">Delta.chat</a>
+<a href="https://delta.chat">Delta.chat</a> Python Bindings
 </p>
diff --git a/python/doc/api.rst b/python/doc/api.rst
index c28cc6f3..7d7d4f35 100644
--- a/python/doc/api.rst
+++ b/python/doc/api.rst
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
 
-deltachat API Reference
-==============================
+deltachat high level API Reference
+===================================
+
+.. note::
+
+    This API is work in progress and may change in versions prior to 1.0.
 
 .. autosummary::
 
    deltachat.account
+   deltachat.chatting
 
 account module
 --------------
@@ -12,3 +17,10 @@ account module
 .. automodule:: deltachat.account
     :members:
 
+
+chatting module
+---------------
+
+.. automodule:: deltachat.chatting
+    :members:
+
diff --git a/python/doc/capi.rst b/python/doc/capi.rst
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..0de4db4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/doc/capi.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+
+Low Level API Reference
+===================================
+
+.. automodule:: deltachat.capi.lib
+    :members:
+
diff --git a/python/doc/index.rst b/python/doc/index.rst
index 13a41b08..060237e8 100644
--- a/python/doc/index.rst
+++ b/python/doc/index.rst
@@ -1,17 +1,15 @@
-deltachat: e-mail messaging/chatting API / deltachat-core C lib bindings
-========================================================================
+DeltaChat Python Bindings
+=========================
 
-.. include:: links.rst
+The deltachat package provides two bindings for the core C-library
+of the https://delta.chat messaging ecosystem:
 
-The deltachat library provides interfaces into the core
-C-library for https://delta.chat:
+- :doc:`capi` is a lowlevel CFFI-binding to the
+  `deltachat-core C-API <https://deltachat.github.io/api/index.html>`_.
 
-- **low level bindings to deltachat-core**: ``deltachat.capi.lib`` exposes
-  a CFFI-interface to the `deltachat-core C-API <https://deltachat.github.io/api/index.html>`.
+- :doc:`api` [work-in-progress] is a high level interface to deltachat-core which aims
+  to be memory safe and thoroughly tested through continous tox/pytest runs.
 
-- **higher level bindings**: :class:`deltachat.Account` serves as a high
-  level object through which you can configure, send and receive messages,
-  create and manage groups.
 
 Getting started
 -----------------------------------------
@@ -22,6 +20,7 @@ Getting started
    install
    getting-started
    api
+   capi
 
 .. toctree::
    :hidden:
diff --git a/python/liveconfig.txt b/python/liveconfig.txt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d31127d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/liveconfig.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+addr=test1@hq5.merlinux.eu mail_pw=CzCw6oV4w7WPkTy7BHn8OmC2Vak/
+addr=test2@hq5.merlinux.eu mail_pw=J/fegsglkjJyXFncgn5MAg5t8pAq
+addr=test3@hq5.merlinux.eu mail_pw=supersimplespasswort1
+addr=test4@hq5.merlinux.eu mail_pw=supersimplespasswort2
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/__init__.py b/python/src/deltachat/__init__.py
index 6e700054..a139cd80 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/__init__.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/__init__.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ from deltachat import capi
 from deltachat.capi import ffi
 from deltachat.account import Account  # noqa
 
-
 __version__ = "0.5.dev0"
 
 
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/account.py b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
index 9270b183..89fc6795 100644
--- a/python/src/deltachat/account.py
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/account.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-""" Delta.Chat high level API objects. """
+""" Delta.Chat Account class. """
 
 from __future__ import print_function
 import threading
@@ -12,192 +12,11 @@ except ImportError:
 
 import deltachat
 from . import capi
+from .cutil import convert_to_bytes_utf8, ffi_unicode, iter_array_and_unref
 from .capi import ffi, lib
-from .types import cached_property, property_with_doc
 import attr
 from attr import validators as v
-
-
-@attr.s
-class EventHandler(object):
-    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
-
-    def read_url(self, url):
-        try:
-            r = requests.get(url)
-        except requests.ConnectionError:
-            return ''
-        else:
-            return r.content
-
-    def dc_event_http_get(self, data1, data2):
-        url = data1
-        content = self.read_url(url)
-        if not isinstance(content, bytes):
-            content = content.encode("utf8")
-        # we need to return a fresh pointer that the core owns
-        return capi.lib.dupstring_helper(content)
-
-    def dc_event_is_offline(self, data1, data2):
-        return 0  # always online
-
-
-class EventLogger:
-    def __init__(self, dc_context, logid=None, debug=True):
-        self.dc_context = dc_context
-        self._event_queue = Queue()
-        self._debug = debug
-        if logid is None:
-            logid = str(self.dc_context).strip(">").split()[-1]
-        self.logid = logid
-        self._timeout = None
-
-    def __call__(self, evt_name, data1, data2):
-        self._log_event(evt_name, data1, data2)
-        self._event_queue.put((evt_name, data1, data2))
-
-    def set_timeout(self, timeout):
-        self._timeout = timeout
-
-    def get(self, timeout=None, check_error=True):
-        timeout = timeout or self._timeout
-        ev = self._event_queue.get(timeout=timeout)
-        if check_error and ev[0] == "DC_EVENT_ERROR":
-            raise ValueError("{}({!r},{!r})".format(*ev))
-        return ev
-
-    def get_matching(self, event_name_regex):
-        rex = re.compile("(?:{}).*".format(event_name_regex))
-        while 1:
-            ev = self.get()
-            if rex.match(ev[0]):
-                return ev
-
-    def _log_event(self, evt_name, data1, data2):
-        if self._debug:
-            t = threading.currentThread()
-            tname = getattr(t, "name", t)
-            print("[{}-{}] {}({!r},{!r})".format(
-                 tname, self.logid, evt_name, data1, data2))
-
-
-@attr.s
-class Contact(object):
-    """ Delta-Chat Contact. You obtain instances of it through the :class:`Account`.
-
-    :ivar id: integer id of this chat.
-    """
-    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
-    id = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(int))
-
-    @cached_property  # only get it once because we only free it once
-    def dc_contact_t(self):
-        return capi.lib.dc_get_contact(self.dc_context, self.id)
-
-    def __del__(self):
-        if lib is not None and hasattr(self, "_property_cache"):
-            lib.dc_contact_unref(self.dc_contact_t)
-
-    @property_with_doc
-    def addr(self):
-        """ normalized e-mail address for this account. """
-        return ffi_unicode(capi.lib.dc_contact_get_addr(self.dc_contact_t))
-
-    @property_with_doc
-    def display_name(self):
-        """ display name for this contact. """
-        return ffi_unicode(capi.lib.dc_contact_get_display_name(self.dc_contact_t))
-
-    def is_blocked(self):
-        """ Return True if the contact is blocked. """
-        return capi.lib.dc_contact_is_blocked(self.dc_contact_t)
-
-    def is_verified(self):
-        """ Return True if the contact is verified. """
-        return capi.lib.dc_contact_is_verified(self.dc_contact_t)
-
-
-@attr.s
-class Chat(object):
-    """ Chat object which manages members and through which you can send and retrieve messages.
-    """
-
-    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
-    id = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(int))
-
-    @cached_property
-    def dc_chat_t(self):
-        return capi.lib.dc_get_chat(self.dc_context, self.id)
-
-    def __del__(self):
-        if lib is not None and hasattr(self, "_property_cache"):
-            lib.dc_chat_unref(self.dc_chat_t)
-
-    def is_deaddrop(self):
-        """ return true if this chat is a deaddrop chat. """
-        return self.id == lib.DC_CHAT_ID_DEADDROP
-
-    def send_text_message(self, msg):
-        """ send a text message and return the resulting Message instance.
-
-        :param msg: unicode text
-        :returns: the resulting :class:`Message` instance
-        """
-        msg = convert_to_bytes_utf8(msg)
-        print ("chat id", self.id)
-        msg_id = capi.lib.dc_send_text_msg(self.dc_context, self.id, msg)
-        return Message(self.dc_context, msg_id)
-
-    def get_messages(self):
-        """ return list of messages in this chat.
-
-        :returns: list of :class:`Message` objects for this chat.
-        """
-        dc_array_t = lib.dc_get_chat_msgs(self.dc_context, self.id, 0, 0)
-        return list(iter_array_and_unref(dc_array_t, lambda x: Message(self.dc_context, x)))
-
-    def count_fresh_messages(self):
-        """ return number of fresh messages in this chat.
-
-        :returns: number of fresh messages
-        """
-        return lib.dc_get_fresh_msg_cnt(self.dc_context, self.id)
-
-    def mark_noticed(self):
-        """ mark all messages in this chat as noticed.
-
-        Noticed messages are no longer fresh.
-        """
-        return lib.dc_marknoticed_chat(self.dc_context, self.id)
-
-
-@attr.s
-class Message(object):
-    """ Message object. """
-    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
-    id = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(int))
-
-    @cached_property
-    def dc_msg_t(self):
-        return capi.lib.dc_get_msg(self.dc_context, self.id)
-
-    def __del__(self):
-        if lib is not None and hasattr(self, "_property_cache"):
-            lib.dc_msg_unref(self.dc_msg_t)
-
-    @property_with_doc
-    def text(self):
-        """unicode representation. """
-        return ffi_unicode(capi.lib.dc_msg_get_text(self.dc_msg_t))
-
-    @property
-    def chat(self):
-        """chat this message was posted in.
-
-        :returns: :class:`Chat` object
-        """
-        chat_id = capi.lib.dc_msg_get_chat_id(self.dc_msg_t)
-        return Chat(self.dc_context, chat_id)
+from .chatting import Contact, Chat, Message
 
 
 class Account(object):
@@ -402,21 +221,64 @@ class IOThreads:
             capi.lib.dc_perform_smtp_idle(self.dc_context)
 
 
-def convert_to_bytes_utf8(obj):
-    if obj == ffi.NULL:
-        return obj
-    if not isinstance(obj, bytes):
-        return obj.encode("utf8")
-    return obj
+@attr.s
+class EventHandler(object):
+    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
+
+    def read_url(self, url):
+        try:
+            r = requests.get(url)
+        except requests.ConnectionError:
+            return ''
+        else:
+            return r.content
+
+    def dc_event_http_get(self, data1, data2):
+        url = data1
+        content = self.read_url(url)
+        if not isinstance(content, bytes):
+            content = content.encode("utf8")
+        # we need to return a fresh pointer that the core owns
+        return capi.lib.dupstring_helper(content)
+
+    def dc_event_is_offline(self, data1, data2):
+        return 0  # always online
 
 
-def iter_array_and_unref(dc_array_t, constructor):
-    try:
-        for i in range(0, lib.dc_array_get_cnt(dc_array_t)):
-            yield constructor(lib.dc_array_get_id(dc_array_t, i))
-    finally:
-        lib.dc_array_unref(dc_array_t)
+class EventLogger:
+    def __init__(self, dc_context, logid=None, debug=True):
+        self.dc_context = dc_context
+        self._event_queue = Queue()
+        self._debug = debug
+        if logid is None:
+            logid = str(self.dc_context).strip(">").split()[-1]
+        self.logid = logid
+        self._timeout = None
 
+    def __call__(self, evt_name, data1, data2):
+        self._log_event(evt_name, data1, data2)
+        self._event_queue.put((evt_name, data1, data2))
 
-def ffi_unicode(obj):
-    return ffi.string(obj).decode("utf8")
+    def set_timeout(self, timeout):
+        self._timeout = timeout
+
+    def get(self, timeout=None, check_error=True):
+        timeout = timeout or self._timeout
+        ev = self._event_queue.get(timeout=timeout)
+        if check_error and ev[0] == "DC_EVENT_ERROR":
+            raise ValueError("{}({!r},{!r})".format(*ev))
+        return ev
+
+    def get_matching(self, event_name_regex):
+        rex = re.compile("(?:{}).*".format(event_name_regex))
+        while 1:
+            ev = self.get()
+            if rex.match(ev[0]):
+                return ev
+
+    def _log_event(self, evt_name, data1, data2):
+        if self._debug:
+            t = threading.currentThread()
+            tname = getattr(t, "name", t)
+            print("[{}-{}] {}({!r},{!r})".format(
+                 tname, self.logid, evt_name, data1, data2))
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py b/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3e5afbcd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/chatting.py
@@ -0,0 +1,133 @@
+""" Chatting related objects: Contact, Chat, Message. """
+
+from . import capi
+from .cutil import convert_to_bytes_utf8, ffi_unicode, iter_array_and_unref
+from .capi import ffi, lib
+from .types import cached_property, property_with_doc
+import attr
+from attr import validators as v
+
+
+@attr.s
+class Contact(object):
+    """ Delta-Chat Contact.
+
+    You obtain instances of it through :class:`deltachat.account.Account`.
+    """
+    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
+    id = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(int))
+
+    @cached_property  # only get it once because we only free it once
+    def dc_contact_t(self):
+        return capi.lib.dc_get_contact(self.dc_context, self.id)
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        if lib is not None and hasattr(self, "_property_cache"):
+            lib.dc_contact_unref(self.dc_contact_t)
+
+    @property_with_doc
+    def addr(self):
+        """ normalized e-mail address for this account. """
+        return ffi_unicode(capi.lib.dc_contact_get_addr(self.dc_contact_t))
+
+    @property_with_doc
+    def display_name(self):
+        """ display name for this contact. """
+        return ffi_unicode(capi.lib.dc_contact_get_display_name(self.dc_contact_t))
+
+    def is_blocked(self):
+        """ Return True if the contact is blocked. """
+        return capi.lib.dc_contact_is_blocked(self.dc_contact_t)
+
+    def is_verified(self):
+        """ Return True if the contact is verified. """
+        return capi.lib.dc_contact_is_verified(self.dc_contact_t)
+
+
+@attr.s
+class Chat(object):
+    """ Chat object which manages members and through which you can send and retrieve messages.
+
+    You obtain instances of it through :class:`deltachat.account.Account`.
+    """
+
+    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
+    id = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(int))
+
+    @cached_property
+    def dc_chat_t(self):
+        return capi.lib.dc_get_chat(self.dc_context, self.id)
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        if lib is not None and hasattr(self, "_property_cache"):
+            lib.dc_chat_unref(self.dc_chat_t)
+
+    def is_deaddrop(self):
+        """ return true if this chat is a deaddrop chat. """
+        return self.id == lib.DC_CHAT_ID_DEADDROP
+
+    def send_text_message(self, msg):
+        """ send a text message and return the resulting Message instance.
+
+        :param msg: unicode text
+        :returns: the resulting :class:`Message` instance
+        """
+        msg = convert_to_bytes_utf8(msg)
+        print ("chat id", self.id)
+        msg_id = capi.lib.dc_send_text_msg(self.dc_context, self.id, msg)
+        return Message(self.dc_context, msg_id)
+
+    def get_messages(self):
+        """ return list of messages in this chat.
+
+        :returns: list of :class:`Message` objects for this chat.
+        """
+        dc_array_t = lib.dc_get_chat_msgs(self.dc_context, self.id, 0, 0)
+        return list(iter_array_and_unref(dc_array_t, lambda x: Message(self.dc_context, x)))
+
+    def count_fresh_messages(self):
+        """ return number of fresh messages in this chat.
+
+        :returns: number of fresh messages
+        """
+        return lib.dc_get_fresh_msg_cnt(self.dc_context, self.id)
+
+    def mark_noticed(self):
+        """ mark all messages in this chat as noticed.
+
+        Noticed messages are no longer fresh.
+        """
+        return lib.dc_marknoticed_chat(self.dc_context, self.id)
+
+
+@attr.s
+class Message(object):
+    """ Message object.
+
+    You obtain instances of it through :class:`deltachat.account.Account` or
+    :class:`Chat`.
+    """
+    dc_context = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(ffi.CData))
+    id = attr.ib(validator=v.instance_of(int))
+
+    @cached_property
+    def dc_msg_t(self):
+        return capi.lib.dc_get_msg(self.dc_context, self.id)
+
+    def __del__(self):
+        if lib is not None and hasattr(self, "_property_cache"):
+            lib.dc_msg_unref(self.dc_msg_t)
+
+    @property_with_doc
+    def text(self):
+        """unicode representation. """
+        return ffi_unicode(capi.lib.dc_msg_get_text(self.dc_msg_t))
+
+    @property
+    def chat(self):
+        """chat this message was posted in.
+
+        :returns: :class:`Chat` object
+        """
+        chat_id = capi.lib.dc_msg_get_chat_id(self.dc_msg_t)
+        return Chat(self.dc_context, chat_id)
diff --git a/python/src/deltachat/cutil.py b/python/src/deltachat/cutil.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa8da654
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/src/deltachat/cutil.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+from .capi import lib
+from .capi import ffi
+
+
+def convert_to_bytes_utf8(obj):
+    if obj == ffi.NULL:
+        return obj
+    if not isinstance(obj, bytes):
+        return obj.encode("utf8")
+    return obj
+
+
+def iter_array_and_unref(dc_array_t, constructor):
+    try:
+        for i in range(0, lib.dc_array_get_cnt(dc_array_t)):
+            yield constructor(lib.dc_array_get_id(dc_array_t, i))
+    finally:
+        lib.dc_array_unref(dc_array_t)
+
+
+def ffi_unicode(obj):
+    return ffi.string(obj).decode("utf8")