In a press roll having a stationary support member and a roll shell rotatable about the stationary support member and movable in a predeterminate support or pressing direction throughout the entire width of the press roll, the provision of guide devices for the rotatable roll shell enable accomplishing an axial and radial guiding of the rotatable roll shell with minimum friction and without using roller bearings. These guide devices comprise hydrostatic support or pressure elements which can be adjusted in the predeterminate support or pressing direction. Bearing surfaces of the hydrostatic support elements and running or travel surfaces at the roll shell are spherically designed, for instance provided in mirror-image relationship to one another at both ends of the press roll, or at only one end thereof, or at the central or intermediate region of the press roll.