It is one of the symbols and landmarks of Tartu alongside Inglisild (Angel's Bridge) located on the other side of Toome Hill.
The Neogothic wooden bridge was based on designs by the University of Tartu architect Johann Wilhelm Krause.
The current single span concrete bridge was built to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Romanov dynasty after designs made by Tartu city architect Arved Eichhorn.
The Toome Hill side of the bridge is decorated with the numbers 1613 and 1913, commemorating the jubilee; the Toome Valley side of the bridge bears a bronze relief of Alexander I of Russia (made by Constanze von Wetter-Rosenthal) and the words "Alexandro Primo".
It has also been suggested that the name may have originated from the name of the supervisor of the construction of the bridge, Professor of Medicine and surgeon Werner Zoege von Manteuffel ("Teufel" – the German for "Devil"), from its similarity to the Teufelsbrücke on Reuss.