diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 19fba66..c2531a6 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 .env*
 node_modules/
 exampleSite/themes/
+exampleSite/public/
 
 # auto-generated files
 layouts/partials/icons-svg-symbols.html
diff --git a/exampleSite/static/.htaccess b/exampleSite/static/.htaccess
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..de377bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/exampleSite/static/.htaccess
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ErrorDocument 404 /404.html