Archaeologists in Ghent may have uncovered the foundations of the Ketelpoort, one of the gates in the city’s first medieval wall, which was demolished in 1780. The finds were made during excavations ahead of the rebuilding of Flanders’ busiest tram line, between Gent-Sint-Pieters station and the Veldstraat shopping area.
The foundations are made of Tournai limestone, a material used between the 11th and 13th centuries. Archaeologist Robrecht Vanoverbeke, of the firm BAAC, says the stone may have belonged to the gate. A 1990 report had already noted a brick wall nearby, linked to the gate on the basis of a 1534 painting.
The discoveries suggest that several separate settlements, including the Sint-Pieters abbey village and the old medieval harbour area, merged at this spot. On nearby Zonnestraat, the stone façade of a medieval townhouse was also found. The tram works run until 2029 and cost 23 million euros.
