The legend tells that Cornudella was founded by the Count of Prades, when he found her daughter, who had god lost during a hunting party, in the place where it stands up today. It is told that the girl played her horn, and the man managed to find her by following that sound. Therefore, the name of Cornudella could come from " Corn d'Ella" (which means "her horn").

However, this beautiful story is not the only probable origin of the name. It is thought that Cornudella could have been founded before the Prades Earldom was created. The origin of the name could be Roman, and it would mean "place of grazing for big herds.

The oldest document that makes a reference to Cornudella dates from 1190. It refers to the donation that the queen "Donna Sança" made of the village of "Cornutel·la" to the Navarra brothers. In 1292 the Rector was Guillem de Rupe. And i 1378 we find the name of Pere Escapolat as the first known Major of the village.

Cornudella has had during its history many increases and decreases in its population. In 1497 there were 256 inhabitants. Some centuries late, in 1860, there were 2.552 inhabitants. This number was reduced to the number of 974 in the census of 1981.

It was the place where many fights took place.For example, the guerrilla fights of "El Carrasclet" took place there, and the consequences of the "Guerra del Francés" and of the "Guerras Carlinas" affected the village too.

The economy was affected by the pressures of the Jews of Falset and the Prades Earldom in the beginning, and after this, by the pressures of the Duke of Medinaceli and the Prior of Escaladei.

During the second half of the 19th.century, there was an economical revival that caused an increase in the number of inhabitants and the cosntruction of many elegant buildings.

The economic developments ended with the arrival of the philloxera, which damaged Cornudella and other villages of the county very hardly.

In the calendar there are many feasts that were traditional many years ago, and there are some that have been recently created.

January:

"Cabalgata de Reyes": It is celebrated on the 5th.of January. The "Reyes Magos de Oriente" and their "Pajes" arrive in the village after followint the Orient Star. The inhabitants, specially the children, welcome them.

After this they go to the Church, where the Kings make a speech and a balance of the year. When this act ends, the Pajes start distributing the presents. They climb to the balconies and give the excited children. After this, they leave the village and go back to their far residences.

Sant Antoni: It is celebrated on the 17th.of January. In the morning, there is the blessing of the animals of the village, which is done by the priest.

When the blessing ends they go to the Sant Joan de Codolar Hermitage, where an Eucharist is celebrated. Afterall they have luch in the Hermitage.

February:

Carnival: This feast is not celebrated on any exact day. It depends on the data of Easter. During two days the inhabitants of Cornudella disguis themselves. On Saturday, there is a dance for the children in the afternoon, and another for the young and old people at night. On Sunday there is a dance for all the inhabitants.

March:

"Festa de la Primavera": when Spring starts, the months of the flowers and the good weather appears. The inhabitants plant some flowers and trees in the gardens, in the public squares or in the unforested mountains.

April:

Cultural journeys at School: This feast is organised by the teachers of the public school "Dr.Piñol i Aiguadé", with the help of the A.P.A.

It is usually celebrated during the third week of April, and there are different activities in and out of the School.

Sant Jordi: The tradition tells that the man has to give a red rose to the woman, and that she has to give him a book. (23rd.of April).

May:

"El Jubileu a Siurana": The inhabitants of Cornudella, as many other inhabitants of the province of Tarragona go to Siurana every 9th.of May to revere to the Mare de Déu de l'Aigua.

In the morning, there is an Eucharist made by many priests of the villages near Cornudella and the Archbishop of Tarragona. When it ends, everybody have lunch in Siurana.

In the afternoon they pray a "Rosario" in a pocession that ends in the Castle. There the priest tells a prayer from a hill. After this, the people go back to their houses.

"Jornada Gastronómica del arroz con conejo": It is celebrated on the last Sunday of May. There is a competition of "paellas" of rice with rabbit (which is the only condition that must be satisfied so as to take part in it). When it finishes all of the people have dinner together.

Corpus Christi: It is celebrated depending on the data for Easter, normally during the second or third week. There is an Eucharist ad a procession through the street in the village. The "Primeras Comuniones" are celebrated on this day too.

June:

Feasts of San Juan: on Sant Joan's Eve the youth of the village go to look for the fire of "El Canigó" at six o'clock p.m. It arrives from Reus by the relays of the young people.

The inhabitants wait for the fire very nervously. They meet in the plain of the Church, and then the fire continues to Ulldemolins and La Morera de Montsant.

After this, the governors give a diploma to the runners, and the prices to the winnerrs of the Concursos of Hogueras.

When the light disappears, they light the bonfires with the fire of El Canigó, and the feast of the fire stars. They use fire rockets until midnight, when there is a water war that ends at six o'clock in the morning.

Day 24th.San Juan: Early in the morning the inhabitants go to the Sant Joan de Codolar Hermitage and have breakfast. There is an Eucharist after, and at its end, some people go back to their homes, but a lot of people stays in the hermitage to spend the day.

July:

Dance of Sant Cristòfol: This feast is celebrated on the Saturday before or after the day of this saint. If the weather is good (that is usual), there is a popular dance in the square of the village. There is wine and coca distributed for everybody.

Sant Cristòfol: It is celebrated on the first or second week of the month depending on the data of Easter. In the morning the inhabitants that own a car bless them. After this, they go to "pasar el río" (cross the river), in the dam or in L'Argentera, etc.

Feast of the football: this feast is celebrated on the last Saturday of the month.
In the afternoon, the Club de Fútbol of Cornudella prepares a popular dance in the I al pati de les escoles o a la pista poliesportiva.

August:

Mare de Déu d'Agost: (15th.of August). It is the onomastic of all the women whose name is María. There is an Eucharist.

L'Aplec de Sardanes: it is the typical dance of Catalunya, The Grup Sardanista Montsant organises the meeting, and it is celebrated on the second or third Sunday of every month.

The Mayor Feast: it is the longest feast that takes place in the village. It longs for 5 or 6 days. There are different cultural and social activities.

September:

The "Festa de la Mare de Déu de la Vila": (8th.of September). In the morning there is an Eucharist. It used to be one of the days of the Fiesta Mayor, but this day got changed.

Diada Nacional de Catalunya: on the 11th.of September there is a giant rice "paella" and a popular dance in the afternoon.

November:

Feast of the tree: the inhabitants of Cornudella plant pines, trees and flowers in the village, and try to contribute to the creation of an unpoluted atmosphere.

December:

During this month there is not any feast, although there are different activities as the plant of the Christmas Tree some days before the feasts.

One of the most interesting buildings of the population is the archpriest Church of Santa María, which dates from the 17th.century (first Renaissance in Catalunya). Within it, there is a Gothic image of La Marede Déu de Patrocini.

The Cooperative Cellar was designed by the modernist architect Cèsar Martinell.

In the bottom of the Montsant mountain, there is the Sant Joan de Codolar Hermitage. The inhabitants of Cornudella are very proud of it. The primitive hermitage had some reformations and amplifications made. The actual construction dates from 1780.

- Asens, Joan.- "Guia del Priorat."- Tarragona: Edic. De la Llibreria de la Rambla, 1981
- "Guia Turística de Tarragona."- Suplement del Diari de Tarragona.- 1986
- "Cornudella de Montsant."- Futlletó Turístic, editat pel Patronat Municipal de Turisme de Cornudella, Any 1988.
- "Secció Excursionista del Centre de Lectura." - Programa de la XII Festa de St. Jordi i de les Roses.- Any 1982.