An endoscope system includes an endoscope switching device 3 to which a plurality of endoscope devices are simultaneously connected, and an endoscope control device which controls the plurality of endoscope devices via the endoscope switching device 3. The endoscope switching device 3 includes an image combining circuit 73 which combines video signals outputted from the plurality of endoscope devices and creates a combined image signal for simultaneously displaying the plurality of endoscope images, and a switching device control unit 75 which controls the image combining circuit 73. The switching device control unit 75 controls the operation for distributing a control command from a remote controller or PC to the corresponding endoscope device based on a character code sent from a system control unit in the endoscope control device. Simultaneously, the switching device control unit 75 controls the image combining circuit 73 via a serial I/F.