I have a new T-shirt. Would you like to know, what Pilvax Kávéház means? I tell you. (Photograph: K.S.E.)

Nowdays Pilvax is a hotel in the city center of Budapest. But in the past, for a long time, Pilvax café was very important for the Hungarians. It was one of the symbols of the Hungarian revolution in 1848.

 The original Pilvax café was founded in 1842 by Ferenc Privorsky, who had bought the building of another coffee house. From this time the Pilvax was the hangout of the young intellectuals.

 The Pilvax in the 1840's. Drawing by József Preiszler

In the middle of the 19th century Hungary was occupied by the Habsburg Empire. In 15 March 1848 these intellectuels met in the Pilvax. In the previous days they had heard the news from Vienna, and in that morning they decided to start the revolution.

 The Pilvax is the symbol of the independence of Hungary.

 By the way, ’kávéház’ means ’café’ or ’caffee house’.