About
Dag Hammarskjöld's farm Backåkra, close to Ystad in southern Sweden, was bought in 1957 as a summer residence by Hammarskjöld, then Secretary-General of the United Nations (1953-1961). The farm was in decline and its restoration came to last until after Hammarskjöld's death in 1961. It was maintained by the Swedish Tourist Association, as a museum displaying his belongings and art, furniture, gifts and more - many from his time at the UN. The south wing of the farm was reserved as a summer retreat for the 18 members of the Swedish Academy, of which Hammarskjöld was a member. There is an outdoor meditation site on the beautiful property of 74 acres, which is a nature reserve. Today, the house is owned by Dag Hammarskjölds Backåkra Foundation Archived 2021-01-27 at the Wayback Machine and contains a museum, conference, small café and book shop.
