Combination of a rotary actuating device (10; 310) and a display area (12; 312), in particular of a domestic appliance, the rotary actuating device (10; 310) having a control element (20; 320) that can rotate about an axis and that projects above an assigned display area (12; 312) serving to indicate the operating state selected and has at least part of a lighting device (28, 30, 32, 34; 326, 330) which illuminates the display area, wherein the lighting device emits a limited beam (38;338) through a circumferential wall or a front wall to one side of the control element (20; 320) which in each case highlights a limited surface region (36, 40; 336, 340) of the display area (12; 312) indicating in particular the operating state selected, wherein the control element (20; 320) supports a light guide (26, 326) and a light-emitting diode (30, 330), wherein the circumferential wall or the front wall possesses a slot-shaped through-hole extending in an axially parallel manner, into which is inserted the light guide (26, 326) which closes the slot and is flush with the outer side of the circumferential wall or the front wall, wherein: - the beam (38; 338) contains visible light and illuminates the surface region (36, 40; 336, 340) to be highlighted, - the control element, to emphasize its position, is implemented in at least a partially lit manner, wherein it is preferably lit more dimly than the highlightable surface regions (336, 340) of the display area (12; 312) or an index mark of the control element, and whereby the control element lights essentially in the same colour as the assigned highlightable surface regions of the display area (12; 312), and different control devices on an appliance have different colours, - the beam, in particular a coloured light beam, causes the surface region to change colour, - the lighting device has a switch, by means of which it is put into operation or switched off to activate or deactivate the appliance or the control element when the control element is drawn out or retracted, - the control element tapers towards the front, - the control element has a finger grip, characterised in that - an indicative character (36; 336) arranged at a radial distance from the circumferential wall or the front wall with respect to the display area (12; 312) stands out in a reflective manner when illuminated; - the highlightable surface regions have or represent characters (36; 336) indicating the operating state, - the lighting device is disposed wholly in the control element and is readily accessible for replacement, wherein the lighting device is formed by a light-emitting diode, a switch and an electrical energy store for powering it; and - the control element (20; 320) has on its surface an illuminated index mark (28; 328) which is preferably fed from the lighting device (26, 30, 32, 34; 326, 330). - the beam (38; 338) contains visible light and illuminates the surface region (36, 40; 336, 340) to be highlighted, - the control element, to emphasize its position, is implemented in at least a partially lit manner, wherein it is preferably lit more dimly than the highlightable surface regions (336, 340) of the display area (12; 312) or an index mark of the control element, and whereby the control element lights essentially in the same colour as the assigned highlightable surface regions of the display area (12; 312), and different control devices on an appliance have different colours, - the beam, in particular a coloured light beam, causes the surface region to change colour, - the lighting device has a switch, by means of which it is put into operation or switched off to activate or deactivate the appliance or the control element when the control element is drawn out or retracted, - the control element tapers towards the front, - the control element has a finger grip, characterised in that - an indicative character (36; 336) arranged at a radial distance from the circumferential wall or the front wall with respect to the display area (12; 312) stands out in a reflective manner when illuminated; - the highlightable surface regions have or represent characters (36; 336) indicating the operating state, - the lighting device is disposed wholly in the control element and is readily accessible for replacement, wherein the lighting device is formed by a light-emitting diode, a switch and an electrical energy store for powering it; and - the control element (20; 320) has on its surface an illuminated index mark (28; 328) which is preferably fed from the lighting device (26, 30, 32, 34; 326, 330).