Casting starting device of a continuous casting line , which has a mould for forming a cast strand from a metal melt filled into the mould and a strand guide , arranged downstream of the mould for transporting the cast strand , the casting starting device comprising - a starting bar with a starting bar head , which is designed for closing off a mould outlet of the mould at a beginning of continuous casting and forms a first starting bar end of the starting bar , - a pulling-up device , releasably connected to a second starting bar end of the starting bar , for pulling up the starting bar at the second starting bar end , - and at least one connecting element for connecting a cast strand head of the cast strand to the starting bar head by a releasable connection of a first portion of the connecting element to the starting bar head and a fixed connection of a second portion of the connecting element to the cast strand head by the second portion being cast into the cast strand head during the beginning of continuous casting in the mould , - wherein the releasable connection of the connecting element to the starting bar head is a turning joint connection, which can be released by a pivoting movement of the starting bar head about a turning axis of the turning joint connection occurring during the pulling up of the starting bar , - wherein the releasable turning joint connection between a connecting element and the starting bar head is formed by a joint shaft bearing and a joint shaft mounted in the joint shaft bearing and running along the turning axis , wherein the joint shaft bearing is formed by the first portion of the connecting element and the joint shaft is a component part of the starting bar head . - a starting bar with a starting bar head , which is designed for closing off a mould outlet of the mould at a beginning of continuous casting and forms a first starting bar end of the starting bar , - a pulling-up device , releasably connected to a second starting bar end of the starting bar , for pulling up the starting bar at the second starting bar end , - and at least one connecting element for connecting a cast strand head of the cast strand to the starting bar head by a releasable connection of a first portion of the connecting element to the starting bar head and a fixed connection of a second portion of the connecting element to the cast strand head by the second portion being cast into the cast strand head during the beginning of continuous casting in the mould , - wherein the releasable connection of the connecting element to the starting bar head is a turning joint connection, which can be released by a pivoting movement of the starting bar head about a turning axis of the turning joint connection occurring during the pulling up of the starting bar , - wherein the releasable turning joint connection between a connecting element and the starting bar head is formed by a joint shaft bearing and a joint shaft mounted in the joint shaft bearing and running along the turning axis , wherein the joint shaft bearing is formed by the first portion of the connecting element and the joint shaft is a component part of the starting bar head . <EOS>