The Saar area came under the control of the Franks towards the end of the 5th century. In the 6th century, the Merovingians gave the village "Merkingen", which had formed on the ruins of the villa on the south-western end of the (in those times still usable) Roman bridge, to the Bishopric of Metz. Between 601 and 609, Bishop Arnual founded a community of clerics, a "Stift", there. Centuries later the "Stift", and in 1046 "Merkingen", took on his name, giving birth to "St Arnual".