To provide a flat panel display device which uses microelectromechanical elements as switches, is high in optical switching efficiency and is low in a manufacturing cost.

The flat panel display device has a rear surface glass substrate 20 which is formed with transparent electrodes 21, the microelectromechanical elements 22 which switch light, a front surface glass substrate 25 which is formed with color filter layers 24 and supporting beams 23 which support the rear surface glass substrate 20 and the front surface glass substrate 25. The microelectromechanical elements 22 are formed on the transparent electrodes 21 by a micromachining technique.