Roland distinguished himself through combat with the Saracen paladin Ferragut (also known as Ferragus). Ferragut was a Syrian giant said to have been a descendant of Goliath (as in David and Goliath) who had been sent to Spain to fight Charlemagne's Christian army. He is said to have had the strength of 40 men and feared no weapon. Ferragut had an impenetrable skin such that no sword could make any impression on it. His method of fighting was to seize his adversaries in his arms and carry them off despite their struggling. Many of Charlemagne's men were sent to fight the giant and were defeated every time. Finally Roland, one of Charlemagne's knights, was able to approach the giant and fought him for 2 days using anything at his disposal including swords, sticks, bare fists and stones. Despite this Roland was unable to even wound the giant. Roland's utmost skill only availed to keep him out of the giant's clutches, but all his efforts to wound him with the sword were useless. After long fighting, Ferragut was so weary that he proposed a truce, and when it was agreed upon, he lay down and immediately fell asleep. He slept in perfect security, for it was against all the laws of chivalry to take advantage of an adversary under such circumstances. But Ferragts lay so uncomfortably for the want of a pillow, that Roland took pity upon him, and brought a smooth stone and placed it under his head. When the giant woke up, after a refreshing nap, and perceived what Roland had done, he seemed quite grateful, became sociable, and talked freely. He told Orlando that he need not attempt to kill him with a sword, for that every part of his body was invulnerable, except the middle of his breast. Aided by this information, Roland succeeded, when the fight was renewed, in piercing the giant in the very spot he had mentioned, thus killing him. Great was the rejoicing in the Christian camp, and many the praises showered upon the victorious paladin by the Emperor and all his host.

Alto Poyo de Roldan (610 m elevation) is a flat-topped hill said to be a stone throw by Roland to kill the giant Ferragut