Hagsätra, Stockholm, Sweden

This oak is over 200 years old and has seen Hagsätra transformed from countryside to city suburb. It is the vårdträd of Hagsätra Gård. The vårdträd was, in the folk religion, a dominant tree that stood near the farm and on whose well-being the luck and prosperity of the family were dependent. Damaging the tree, or even breaking off leaves, was sure to result in disease or bad luck. The hustomte[a], or other mythical creatures, were said to live under the tree. While the mythical creatures lack any form of scientific basis, what does have a scientific basis is the fact that, as the highest point near the main building, the vårdträd would function as a primitive lightning-rod, and be hit before the main building was.

This is the root cellar of Hagsätra Gård. Now completely abandoned, it is the only structure still easily recognizable of the old farm.

The line of rocks in the lower right of the photo are the foundation stones of the main building of the farm, showing just how little is left.