A guide wire holder for receiving and holding an inherently elastic medical guide wire and for attaching same to a medical device, such as an endoscope, has an attachment part through which the guide wire can he guided and a guide wire support which is connected to the attachment part projects from same, and allows the guide wire to be held by a guide wire receiving device. The guide wire receiving device contains a first guide wire deflecting element in the form of a deflecting and clamping bracket which is open on one side, the guide wire deflecting element guiding the guide wire away from the attachment part and clamping the guide wire, arid the guide wire receiving device contains two additional guide wire deflecting elements. The deflecting and clamping bracket has two bracket parts which project from the guide wire support and between which a slot is provided. The slot runs between the two bracket parts in one position and/or alignment located outside of a guide wire expansion path of the guide wire support, the expansion path being determined by the inherent elasticity of the guide wire.
