Spring School: Tracking the Evolution of Planetary Systems and Planets, 15th to 22nd April 2026
During the conference it will be spring, thus the main pollen season in Central Europe. If you have a pollen allergy, check with your doctor about possible medication during your trip. For a pollen forecast consult a pollen forecast. If you have any food allergies, please inform the local organisers (mentioning it on the registration form will do).
Banks are usually open from Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 17:00. Most banks are closed on Saturdays and Sundays. Please note that there is NO bank service nor a cash mashine in Liblice. Albeit the conference venue accepts credit cards it is good to get some cash at the airport.
The climate of Liblice is moderately continental. The average max temperature is 16 degrees C and the minimum 4 degrees C. Precipitation in April amounts to around 45 mm, with around 33 percent of chance of presentation on the average. Bring your umbrella and a light raincoat in case of occasional showers.
The most common problems to hit foreigners are pickpocketing and car break-ins. Pickpockets and car thieves are highly skilled professionals and often operate at larger, crowded touristy places like the centre of Prague. Nevertheless it is wise not to leave any valuables in the car and put them in the room or hotel safe instead. For emergencies call 112. Usually operators speak English.
We do not plan any extreme activities, so people should be safe if they take care. Please note that paths can be slippery, especially in the extended part of Liblice Park. Participants will take part in all activities of the conference at their own risk and the organisers do not have any liability for accidents or illnesses affecting any attendee(s) due to those activities.
There is definitely no dress code at the conference. But you might want to dress a bit smarter at the dinner on the last day.
Tap water is safe everywhere in the Czech Republic. As widely known, beer is popular with Czechs. Apart from the big household brands it is wise also to try the products of some smaller local breweries. There is also wine grown in Mělník (available at the castle). Also, a good selection of non-alcoholic drinks is available at the Castle.
Information about driving in the Czech Republic can be found here. It is wise to stick to traffic rules and speed limits since police controls are frequent and fines hefty.
112 is the general emergency line throughout the European Union (similar to 911 in the U.S.) The number can be dialed from any phone, and the call is free.
The cuisine of the Czech Republic has always maintained a very high standard, even through the difficult war and Communist years. In the interwar years the Prague cuisine was regarded as equal to the Parisian and Viennese one.
Meals are often started with a soup (polévka). These can be meat broths with different noodles and dumplings. Since picking mushrooms is a national pastime, mushroom soup is popular. A speciality is garlic soup (česnečka) with bread croutons.
Beef, veal and especially pork is very common as main dish. Lamb, venison and fish (apart from the traditional Christmas carp) are less common. Goulash and schnitzel often appear on menus. A vegetarian (but calorie-rich) alternative is camembert baked in breadcrumb butter with lingonberry sauce (hermelín). As side dishes, dumpling, noodles and potatoes in all forms (mashed, boiled, fried, are often served).
There is a huge variety of desserts - often regarded as the best part of the Czech cuisine. This ranges from fruit dumplings and pancakes to all kinds of cakes and strudels.
The Czech Republic is an associate member of the Schengen agreement which exempts travelers from regular personal border controls between almost all European Union (EU) countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Estonia) and two European Economic Area (EEA) countries (Norway and Iceland). as well as Switzerland. People living in Great Britain and Ireland are subject to personal border controls upon entry to the Schengen area. Border controls can, however be imposed on travellers from all states.
If you are not a citizen of a Schengen country, please check with the embassy responsible if a visa is required for entry. If you need a visa, please start the paperwork AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Not only can handling times be long, but it might be difficult to find the embassy responsible for citizens of your nationality and location. In many cases, Czech embassies do not hold consular offices and the visa applications are handled by embassies of or in or in other countries. This can delay procedures. Please note that invitation letters are only issued for invited speakers and selected attendees.
Liblice Catle offers free wireless connection Free Wifi is getting more common also in cafes and restaurants.
There are no laundries in Liblice. In Mělnik there is a launderette (open 24 hours) in the parking lot of TESCO’s, Vodárenská 3653. In Prague there are several ones.
Lunches, breakfasts and dinners are served in the dining room the Castle, if not announced differently.
In case of emergency, call 112 (general emergency). If you are a citizen of any of the Nordic, EU/EEA countries or Switzerland, you have access to essential health care if you register beforehand at a social insurance office in your home country and obtain a European Health Insurance card. People from non-European countries are strongly encouraged to obtain a travel health insurance.
The Czech Republic does not have the Euro, but an own currency, the Czech crown (koruna) abbreviated CZK. Coins exist at 1, 2, 5 , 10, 20 and 50 CZK, notes at CZK 100, 200, 500, 1000, 2000 and 5000.
Cash machines (ATMs), are frequent in the Czech Republic, but there is no one in Liblice. In Mělník there are quite a few close to the bus station at Fibichova, one is at Česká spořitelna, Pražská 220. Currency exchange offices, are common in Prague but sometimes have high commissions and/or unfavourabe rates. There are exchange offices at the airport as well as cash machines. Credit cardsr are very widely accepted, but sometimes this does not include "Diners" and "Amex" due to their higher fees for businesses.
The closest one is in Melník, Tyršova 100. It opens from 08:00 to 18:00 Mon - Fri, 08.00 to 12:00 Sat.
Information about the local transport in the region can be found at the website of Norrbottens länstrafik (link: https://ltnbd.se/en/timetables/). For the bus traffic I Kiruna check the website local bus service (link: http://buss.kiruna.se/#/ For information on how to get to Kiruna please check the Venue & Access page For schedules of long-distance trains check the excellent web site of the German Railways (in 6 languages) or the Swedish State Railway
Registration will be at the front desk of Liblice Castle on 14th April 2026 from 14:00 to 20:00. Later arriving participants can get their material in the lecture room during coffee breaks.
Shops generally open 09:00 - 18:00 (Mon to Fri) and 09:00 - 12:00 on Sat, supermarkets longer and also on Sundays and public holidays. Most popular souvenirs are:
- Bohemian glassware
- Garnet jewelery
- Handicraft items
- Spa wafers from Karlove Vary (please pack them carefully since they easily break)
- Wooden toys
- Becherovka herbal liquor
- Wine from Mělník
Please note that there are no shops in Liblice, but emergency toiletries are available at Liblice Castle.
Taxis should be pre-booked. Waving down taxis from the pavement in New York style is NOT a good idea, you will very probably be cheated and, if you are unlucky, even mugged. There a taxi booking offices at Vaclav Havel Airport. The official airport taxi service is Uber, there are self-service kiosk in the arrival hall.
For calls to the Czech Republic: Dial +420 (the country code for the Czech Republic), then the nine-digit subscriber's number. If you want to make a call from the Czech Republic, dial 00 + the country code + area code + the subscriber's number.
The GSM network works on frequencies of 900 MHz and 1800 MHz (dependent on the carrier). It's not compatible with some mobile phones in North America or Japan. If you are taking your mobile phone with you, make sure that it is able to work on these.
Central European daylight saving time (UTC + 2) will be in force during the meeting. There is no time shift between Germany, France, Poland and the Czech Republic and a 1 hour time shift between London and Liblice. If it is 1 o'clock in London and 2 o'clock in Frankfurt it is 2 o'clock in Liblice.
Tipping is less common in the Czech Republic than in the rest of Europe. At restaurants in the Czech Republic a gratuity or service charge is usually included. If it is there should be no need to leave a tip. If no service charge is included, it is good etiquette to tip the waiter or waitress 10% to 15%. In case of bad service it is OK to give nothing. For porters CZK 30,- per bag is a good amount.
Ladies' rooms are marked with "ženy or dámy" and Gentlemen's rooms with"Muži" or "Páni". Unisex teilets are fairly uncommon in the Czech republic.
! DISCLAIMER !
All the information given above is to the best of our knowledge. However, we cannot accept any liability for inadvertently false or incomplete information on this site.
