The invention relates to a winding apparatus for covering an opening. According to the invention transmitting means are provided for interaction between a drive unit and a winding element, having a windable pulling element which is received between a first rotatable winding body and a second rotatable winding body in such a manner that the pulling element can be wound and unwound by way of the first winding body which is driveable by the drive unit, wherein the second winding body and the winding element are rotatably coupled together and wherein the cover element can be wound by way of an unwinding operation of the pulling element from the second winding body.