An endoscopic system includes at least one endoscope having an objective which generates an image of an area to be observed, at least one video recorder which records the image generated by the objective, at least one instrument, a position-sensing device which detects a position of the at least one instruments, and an assessment and control unit to which an output signal of the video recorder and the position-sensing device are applied and which displays on a monitor the image and symbols representing the position of the instrument. The position-sensing device includes a sensor which also detects orientation of the instrument, and the assessment and control unit displays symbols which indicate, in addition to the position the orientation of the instrument.