A sterilizing tunnel for pharmaceutical containers has an entry zone, a heating zone, and two cooling zones. The individual zones contain ventilating fan units that generate air currents, which serve to heat and cool the containers that a transport apparatus conveys through the sterilizing tunnel. The heating and cooling units, which operate using the principle of heated and cooled air flow, is supplemented with radiant heat-generating unit. The sterilizing tunnel makes it possible to achieve a uniform heating and cooling of the containers, preventing stress cracks in the containers and permitting intentional heating that makes it possible, for example, for the containers to be coated with a substance.
