How to create a tab bar that imitates the look an feel of a GtkNotebook?

[Bachsau <web bachsau name>]

As my last question seems to have been misunderstood, I'm trying to ask 
again with this other subject line:

"How to create a tab bar that imitates the look an feel of a GtkNotebook?"

Im developing a GTK+ 3 application that should be able to display 
multiple files in tabs. But a GtkNotebook widget is not suitable for 
this, as it implies a functionality where every single page is a 
separate container. In the case of my application I just need some sort 
of tab bar to connect to application's logic, which will then change the 
data displayed by the ever same set of widgets.

How can this be achieved without ugly workarounds?