The invention relates to a switching device comprising a switching structure (1) that consists of a cage assembly (24) with two opposing first lateral walls (5) and a base wall (6) that connects said walls, forming one piece. The cage assembly (24) is configured at least partially as a cage (21), in which a slide (4) is displaceably mounted. According to the invention, a displaceable contact bridge (3), which is allocated to fixed contacts, is retained in an opening (15) of the slide (4) by the action of a contact compression spring (2). Clearance (26) is provided between the two first lateral walls (5) to permit the displacement of the contact bridge (3) and the device is equipped with a stop (18) for retaining the slide (4). Switching chambers (7), configured from insulating second lateral walls (23), form part of the switching structure (1). The second lateral walls (23) delimit a volume, which contains the circuit breaking electric arcs and said second lateral walls (23) are located on opposite sides of the cage assembly (24) that surrounds the cage (21) and are separated from said cage by a respective gap (27).