The invention relates to a gas discharge display device of the plasma panel type comprising a gas filled gas-tight enclosure which contains a front plate, a rear plate, and a control plate subdividing the interior of the enclosure into two chambers. The control plate bears, on its two sides, electrode paths which are capable of being actuated separately, and forming row and column conductors respectively, of a matrix, said control plate being perforated, together with these paths, at the intersection points of the matrix.In order to keep the front plate at a minimal distance of approximately 1 mm relative to the control plate, according to the invention, web-shaped spacing elements with an essentially constant wall thickness are provided. The spacing elements extend in the plane of the control plate, are led past the perforations of the control plate, and run, alternating in sections, essentially parallel to, or at an angle, respectively, to the matrix conductors facing the front plate.The invention finds application, especially, in the case of a plasma panel-type wherein a fluorescent screen is excited for light generation by means of high-energy electrons.