Abstract: A vacuum valve includes a vacuum vessel having an interior portion sealed by a fixed-end end plate and a moving-end end plate disposed at first and second end portions, respectively, of a cylindrical electrically-insulating tube, a fixed electrode rod secured to the fixed-end end plate, a fixed electrode being disposed on an end portion of the fixed electrode rod, a movable electrode rod, a movable electrode capable of contacting and separating from the fixed electrode being disposed on an end portion of the movable electrode rod, and an electrode shield secured to the electrically-insulating tube and enveloping the fixed electrode and the movable electrode, the electrode shield preventing an inner wall surface of the electrically-insulating tube from being polluted by a metallic vapor generated by the fixed electrode and the movable electrode during electric-current interruption, a recess portion being formed in a central portion of only one of either a contact surface of the movable electrode or a contact s