Abstract: As early as the twelfth century, there are written records of the “houses as tall as towers” that dominated Ghent. They were built in Tournai stone, a grey limestone brought in via the Scheldt River. Urban archaeology has made it possible to document more than 230 houses, which are located within their political and economic context in this article. They provide insight into the life of the “viri hereditarii,” reflected in the location, layout, height, and architectural features of these houses.
