Abstract: A device for transmitting optical waves has a structure having at least an optical guide element wherein the structure comprises hollow parts or notches (9, 10) adapted to receive the end parts (13, 14) of an optical fiber (12) such that the fiber spans the surface (11a) of the structure separating the hollow parts and the ends of the optical fiber are respectively optically coupled to optical guide elements (7, 8) of the structure. The invention also concerns a method for making such a device which consists in etching the notch by cutting off the end of the optical micro-guide. The device is useful for producing optical switches.