Julita Gård (Julita Manor): History, Gardens & Family Fun near Stockholm

Plan a perfect day trip to Julita Gård—Nordiska museet’s historic manor by Lake Öljaren. Discover its Cistercian roots, 360+ heritage buildings, apple & hop gene banks, Pettson’s farm for kids, tours, events, and how to get there.

SWEDENTOUR GUIDESITES TO VISIT

Zayera Khan

8/25/20252 min read

Julita Gård / Julita Manor

Julita Gård (Julita Manor) is a unique, open-air manor museum in Sörmland, about two hours from Stockholm. The estate is owned by Nordiska museet and preserved to show how a large Swedish estate functioned in the early 1900s—nearly 360 buildings across ~2,200 hectares of manor grounds, forests, farmland and waters.

A quick history

Medieval monastery: The site began as a Cistercian abbey. Founded in 1160 near Sigtuna, the community relocated in 1180 to Säby/Julita by Lake Öljaren (also called Saba in Latin). After the Reformation (1527), the monastery lands became a secular estate.
From noble estate to museum: The present main house dates to the 1730s, with later 18th-century completion; the last private owner, Lt. Arthur Bäckström, bequeathed Julita to Nordiska museet in 1941. To me it is obvious that Arthur Bäckström was homosexual, a gay man who lived life the best he could with social happenings, entertaining his friends and people he found interesting.

What the site looks like today

Historic buildings & interiors: Tour the Main House and explore wings, dairy, windmill, fire station, workshops, and Monastery House—whose ground floor preserves medieval brick vaults from the abbey. Guided tours of the Main House are included in summer admission (subject to capacity).
Gardens & living collections: Walk style gardens, kitchen plots and orchards. Julita maintains living collections: a fruit tree gene bank (hundreds of apple trees/cultivars) and a hop clone archive that forms part of Sweden’s national gene bank for cultivated plants. Expect peonies and geraniums in season.
Open-air heritage zone: At Julita Skans, Bäckström gathered cottages and built a small parish church in National-Romantic style—great for photos and context on rural life.
For families: Pettson’s farm (Pettsongården)—created with author Sven Nordqvist—is a beloved play area built at 2/3 scale so kids can “step into” the books. The family area and playgrounds round out a very kid-friendly day.

Best things to do (1–6 hours)

Join a guided tour of the Main House (45 min) to see Bäckström’s interiors, carriages and the copper kitchen.
Garden loop: Greenhouse exhibits (hops, geraniums), peony garden, kitchen garden, hop archive, and the fruit gene bank. Time your visit for special Garden Days (Peony, Geranium, Bee Day).
Abbey traces: Peek into the Monastery House vaults—rare medieval remains on a manor site.
Skans walk: Stroll the Julita Skans cottages and church; finish at the lakeside jetty for fika with an Öljaren view.
Seasonal events: Classic Midsummer festivities, art shows, and Apple Days in late September (fruit exhibition, talks, family activities).

Practical planning

Season & opening: Julita runs full programming in summer (typically mid-June to late August, with shoulder-season weekends). Outside summer, the park/gardens stay open year-round for self-guided walks. Always check current hours before you go.

Getting there: From Stockholm take a train to Katrineholm or Eskilstuna, then bus to “Julita Gård / Julita gård entré”. Driving takes ~2 hours; parking (incl. accessible spaces) and EV charging are available on site.

Tickets & tours: Summer admission covers grounds and buildings; guided Main House tour is included but space is limited—collect a tour ticket on arrival (first-come, first-served). Julita gård

Eat, shop & stay: You’ll find a café/inn (seasonal) and a shop focused on sustainable country living; Hostels, hotels and camping sites are available in the region too.

Fast facts (good to know)

Where: By Lake Öljaren, 25 km outside Katrineholm, Sörmland; roughly two hours from Stockholm.
Who runs it: Nordiska museet (the Nordic Museum).
Scale: About 360 buildings across ~2,200 hectares.
With kids: Pettson’s Farm + outdoor play areas.

Sample half-day itinerary

Main House tour (45 min).
Garden circuit: greenhouse exhibits → hop & fruit collections → peonies/roses in season.
Julita Skans cottages & church.
Family time: Pettson’s farm/play areas (summer).
Fika by the jetty at Lake Öljaren.