A bearing assembly comprising at least a first bearing element and a second bearing element which are connected to each other along a common longitudinal axis so as to be rotatable relative to each other, the bearing assembly comprising a braking device which inhibits the relative rotation of the two bearing elements with respect to one another by means of a frictional force generated by the braking device, the braking device having at least one friction element and at least one clamping device by means of which the friction element is permanently clamped against one of the two bearing elements, and a coupling device which is adjustable between an open state and a closed state, wherein in the closed state the brake device is engaged, whereby upon rotation of the two bearing elements relative to each other, this rotation is inhibited by the frictional force generated by means of the brake device, and wherein in the open condition the braking device is disengaged, whereby the two bearing elements are free to rotate relative to each other without being inhibited by the braking device, characterized in that the tensioning device comprises a split or unsplit tensioning clamp, a bent wire threaded at its ends and clamped with a clamping nut, a steel cable hooked into a tensioning element of the tensioning device, a steel cable or steel band which is tensioned by means of a tensioning element and/or an endless steel cable or endless steel band which is laid annularly around the bearing element and is tensioned with a tensioning element at its ends, and the coupling device comprises a transmission device, by means of which a force for adjustment between the open state and the closed state can be transmitted and/or a pretensioning force of the tensioning device can be transmitted, the transmission device comprising two wedge elements sliding against one another on their respective wedge surfaces during adjustment. a braking device which inhibits the relative rotation of the two bearing elements with respect to one another by means of a frictional force generated by the braking device, the braking device having at least one friction element and at least one clamping device by means of which the friction element is permanently clamped against one of the two bearing elements, and a coupling device which is adjustable between an open state and a closed state, wherein in the closed state the brake device is engaged, whereby upon rotation of the two bearing elements relative to each other, this rotation is inhibited by the frictional force generated by means of the brake device, and wherein in the open condition the braking device is disengaged, whereby the two bearing elements are free to rotate relative to each other without being inhibited by the braking device, characterized in that the tensioning device comprises a split or unsplit tensioning clamp, a bent wire threaded at its ends and clamped with a clamping nut, a steel cable hooked into a tensioning element of the tensioning device, a steel cable or steel band which is tensioned by means of a tensioning element and/or an endless steel cable or endless steel band which is laid annularly around the bearing element and is tensioned with a tensioning element at its ends, and the coupling device comprises a transmission device, by means of which a force for adjustment between the open state and the closed state can be transmitted and/or a pretensioning force of the tensioning device can be transmitted, the transmission device comprising two wedge elements sliding against one another on their respective wedge surfaces during adjustment.