The origin of the village can be Islamic. However, the lands were inhabited many years ago, as the ruins of a pre-iberian inhabited place, which have been found in the Puig.roig hill, show.

It is possible that there were some Iberian fortifications in the "Coll de Les Pineres", which is the best observation point of the course of the Siurana River. They could have been taken profit for the later civilisations, from which there are still some ruins.

El Masroig was a set of farms in the beginning. Etymologically, the name of the village could be the union of two words, "Mas" (farm), and "Roig" (red), although it might come from the derivation of "mà roja" (that is, red hand). This was thought after realising that there is a hand in the coat arms of the village.

After the "Reconquista". The village was under the domains of the Castellvell family, and of their successors, the Entenças of the Prades Earldom. Therefore, the village suffer the same difficulties and problems that the owners.

One part of the township belonged to the domains of La Cartoixa.

After the "Guerra de Successió", the township of Les Pinyeres was added to El Masroig.

The village of Les Pinyeres received a population permit after the reconquest of the Siurana River, and a bid part of the township was under the jurisdiction of Escaladei.

There are not any important historical notes about the history of the village. Actually, what is already known, in that Les Pinyeres was burnt either during the "Guerra dels Segadors" or during the fights against Felipe V (it is not possible to know exactly when this happened). Its township was added to the township of El Masroig after this.

The destruction of the village was the origin for a legend that has become richer with some historical known data. With this, it is possible to have an idea of what indeed happened. Once upon a time, a captain that was in the area with some more soldiers, tried to seduce a lady of the village, The neighbours reacted against the invader captain, but his revenge was terrible. The repression to the inhabitants was so hard that the village was burnt and the waters were poisoned. Only the little church was not burnt. After this destruction, the two village unified and the own townships merged. Not only this, but in the abandoned church, the faithful kept their workships.

A sign of this union is the holy water stoup that is in the Masroig Church. Outside of it, there are three coats of arms: the El Masroig's, the Les Pinyeres', and one that links both of them. In the first, there is a olive branch, and in the second we can see a pine-cone.

The Winter "Festa Major" is celebrated on the Day of Sant Sebastià. It takes place on the closerst Saturaday to the 20th.of January. It is typical to eat a kind of cake called "coques ensucrades de Sant Sebastià". In the square of the village the people dance a typical dance, the "jotes".

As long as we can remember, the Feast of La Mare de Déu de Les Pinyeres is celebrated on the first Saturday after Easter. There are lots of visitors from all the county that meet there and spend a beautiful day in the Hermitage.

On the 24th. of August (Sant Bartomeu's Day), it is celebrated the Summer "Festa Major", that longs for five or six days.

Another important data is the 11th.of September. On this day, the "Aplec de Les Pinyeres" takes place in the village. In the morning, they meet at the Plaça de la Vila, and in the afternoon, the appointment is at the Plaça de l'Església. The Town Council invites to everybody to a typical breakfast. It is composed by herrings and grapes. In the afternoon, they can drink some hot chocolate.

From some years ago, the "Setmana Cultural" (the cultural week) is organised by the "Societat Cultural i Recreativa Flor de Maig" in the last week of October. There are a lot of activities such that lectures, exhibitions, kitchen competitions, etc..

The streets of El Masroig are narrow, simple and friendly. The most important building is the parish church, which points out because of its big dimensions, as if it belonged to a village with a larger population. The construction of the church dates from the last century, when the village experienced a strong growth, and it was necessary to provide a larger church. The inauguration of the new building took place in 1883. All the inhabitants participated in this construction. The building is Neo-classical, and still conserves a pavement of mood adobes that is very interesting.

The Hermitage of Les Pinyeres is situated in a place where some marvellous landscapes can be seen. This place used to be the point where the old Romance church of the village had been set, but there are only four walls and a facade of it that are still up. The Hermitage was rebuilt in the 18th.century, in a Neo-classical style.

It is interesting to visit the Pre-iberian inhabited place (1600-1500 b.C.).

- Asens, Joan. - Guia del Priorat. - Tarragona: Edicions de la Llibreria de la Rambla, 1981.
- "La Veu del Priorat". - nº3, Maig-Juny de 1990.