The invention relates to a filtering device for fluids, comprising a filter housing (I). At least one filtering element (9) which is in the form of a filter cartridge and which defines a longitudinal axis (11) can be received in said filter housing. The filter cartridge has an end cap (17) on at least one end, said end cap fanning an enclosure for the corresponding end edge of the filtering material (23, 35). The end cap can be fixed on an element receiving means (13), which interacts with the bottom part (5) of the filter housing (1), in order to fix the position of the filtering element (9) in the functional position thereof. The element receiving means forms a fluid path for the cleaned fluid exiting the filtering hollow chamber (19) of the filtering element (9). The filtering device is characterized in that the element receiving moms (13) contains a valve arrangement (55) which blocks the fluid path (35), and in that a control device (79, 83) which releases the valve arrangement (55) in the functional position is provided on the end cap (17) of the filtering element (9), said end cap being fixed on the element receiving means (13).