An endoscope includes a bending section for bending a bending portion, a manipulating section for operating the bending portion to bend the bending portion, a drive section for bending the bending portion with the bending section, a brake instruction section and a brake release instruction section, and a bend amount detecting section. In response to a brake instruction, the bend amount at a point in time the brake instruction was given is detected, and the drive section is so controlled as to maintain the bend amount whereas in response to a brake release instruction, the drive force of the drive section for maintaining the bend amount is gradually reduced.
