Dag Hammarskjöld's farm Backåkra (Swedish:[ˈbǎkːɔkra]),[citation needed] 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 and contains a museum, conference, small café and book shop.
Backåkra is the name of the farm itself, but also the name of the village to which the farmstead belongs. [citation needed] Due to the 1803 land reform in Scania, farms were moved out of the village with the result that Backåra is now chiefly a land register. Its local school, the folkskola, is today a summer hostel run by the Swedish Hiking Association. The lands of the village are situated less than a mile from the shores of the Baltic in the Österlen area of Scania. Known for its summer cottages and outdoor recreation, the area is popular with tourists.