Abstract: A cross-slide stage comprises a support element, a first displacement element (21) joined to the support element, and a second displacement element (31), wherein the displacement elements (21, 31) are movable in directions arranged perpendicular to one another. The second displacement element (31) defines a plane on which a specimen (105) to be investigated comes to rest. An illumination module (3a) is provided which defines an illuminated-field plane; and when the cross-slide stage (101) is placed onto the illumination module (3a), the plane of the second displacement element (31) coincides with the illuminated-field plane of the illumination module (3a).