Backåkra
Dag Hammarskjöld’s Backåkra was a dream of peace and reflection following his time as UN Secretary-General. Today, the four-winged farm is a museum that tells the story of his life and visions. Visitors can walk in his footsteps through the nature reserve, enjoying the tranquility and birdlife.
A place where the whole world is seen
Memorial site and nature area in Backåkra Nature Reserve
Quietude by the meditation site
Together with Visit Skåne, Ystad Municipality and the partner municipalities in Skåne have created the Quietude campaign, which highlights some of the most peaceful and quiet places in Skåne. Through authentic sound recordings, you get a unique opportunity to experience the sounds of nature in a way that helps block out the noise of the world and instead enjoy the Skåne silence.
One of these places is the Meditation Site at Backåkra – a place with a powerful history and a stillness that is incomparable. In the sound recording from Backåkra, you will hear birds chirping, the proximity to the sea, and, as the sound engineer mentioned, 50 minutes into the recording, you’ll hear a little bird that reminds you of a 90s hit song whose name we can’t remember – listen and see if you can figure out the name of the hit.
Apelöga
Backåkra Nature Reserve
Backåkra Nature Reserve offers a vast landscape with views over the sea. The open heathland is characterized by grazing cows, which help preserve the unique flora and fauna. In spring, the pasque flowers bloom, and in summer, the rolling landscape is painted in a colorful palette with plants like heath flowers, wild thyme, and common fleabane.
The reserve is located along the Skåneleden trail (SL4 Österlen), making it a perfect option for hiking, with opportunities for both shorter and longer walks. A resting place and parking are available near the Backåkra farm, and the nearest bus stop is a few hundred meters to the north.
Backåkra meditation site
The Backåkra meditation site is a stone circle created for contemplation and peace. Originally, the plan was to build a chapel, an idea that was discussed by Dag Hammarskjöld and artist Bo Beskow. After Hammarskjöld’s tragic passing in 1961, a fundraising campaign was launched, organized by Ystads Allehanda and parish priest Per Edvin Wierup, to bring the meditative space to life.
Church architect Thorsten Leon-Nilsson designed the stone circle, inspired by the meditation room at the UN Headquarters in New York, which Hammarskjöld himself had helped shape. The site is adorned with a large stone inscribed with the word "PAX," meaning peace. The meditation site was inaugurated on Midsummer's Day in 1969 by Bishop Martin Lindström.
Today, the site is used for weddings, baptisms, and prayers during the summer, often accompanied by music. Löderup Parish is responsible for bookings at the location.
Dag Hammarskjöld's Backåkra
One of the world’s most famous Swedes, UN Secretary-General, Swedish Academy member, and Nobel laureate Dag Hammarskjöld, dreamed of one day settling on Österlen. In 1957, Hammarskjöld bought the Backåkra farm as a place to live after finishing his duties at the UN. The four-winged farm, surrounded by rolling hills and the sea, appealed to the great nature lover. Together with his friend, artist Bo Beskow, he had the farm renovated and furnished. Sadly, Hammarskjöld passed away during a UN mission in Ndola in 1961. The place he had dreamed of living in was bequeathed to the Swedish Tourist Association (STF) and the Swedish Academy.
Since 2015, Backåkra has been owned by the Dag Hammarskjöld Backåkra Foundation. The foundation was established by the Swedish Academy, the Hammarskjöld family association, and STF. After extensive renovations, Backåkra was reopened in March 2018. Today, the farm is a museum showcasing parts of Hammarskjöld's impressive art collection, as well as many of the gifts he received during his time as UN Secretary-General. Visitors can learn more about his upbringing and life and discover who Dag Hammarskjöld truly was. The museum also features a café and a shop.
