Abstract: A magnetic bearing apparatus for the journalling of a body (3), in particular of a rotor (3), comprises a stator (2) with a control winding (22) having at least three loops (22a, 22b, 22c) for the production of a magnetic control field by means of which the position of the body (3) relative to the stator (2) can be regulated, with each loop (22a, 22b, 22c) belonging to a different electrical phase, and a control device (4) which in a first operating mode supplies each loop (22a, 22b, 22c) with in each case a phase current (Ia, Ib, Ic) or in each case a phase voltage (Ua, Ub, Uc) as a control parameter. Means are provided in order to regulate the control parameter for each loop (22a, 22b, 22c) independently of the control parameter for the other loops (22a, 22b, 22c) as well as a monitoring unit (5) which can switch the bearing apparatus into a second operating mode in which a reduced number of phases, which is at least two, produces the magnetic control field.