The invention relates to a filling system for an unpressurized hot filling of a liquid filling product into bottles or similar containers (2), comprising at least one filling element (3) comprising a product space or liquid channel (8) formed in a filling element housing (7), the product space or liquid channel being connected to a boiler (6) for the filling product, and which forms a filling product dispenser (11) by way of which the filling product flows into the respective container to be filled, a pressurized gas channel (13, 14), a first flow path (16), which can be switched over into a restricted state for slow filling under the control of a valve, and which has a control valve (17) for this purpose, and having a flow path (21) for passing through a hot liquid filling product.