Ghent's former main port as well as a major trade centre for grain, right in the middle of the city on the banks of the river of Scheldt. The long row of beautiful buildings on Graslei all have different architectural styles, and are former guildhalls and warehouses of grain traders, and reflect the wealth and power of the city in past times. They were built along the canal between 1200 and 1600. One is the Grain Warehouse that is the oldest step gable house in the world, and dates from 1200. Graslei actually means 'street of herbs and vegetables', and the Koornlei, which is on the opposite bank, stands for 'street of wheat'. Both names indicate that these products were originally traded and stored there.