Abstract: A high-temperature joining furnace is presented, which is designed for example for the diffusion bonding of joining materials such as metals, plastics, ceramics and corresponding workpieces. The joining furnace comprises a heating chamber, a workpiece holder arranged in the heating chamber for receiving a workpiece to be processed in the joining furnace, a pressing device arranged and adapted to apply a pressing force to the workpiece, wherein the pressing device comprises a pressing plate for uniformly applying the pressing force to the workpiece, and is characterized in that the pressing plate is equipped with a pressing plate heating device for heating the pressing plate and/or the workpiece.