Castle Dungeon

The Secret Passage is a location in A Link to the Past. After Link frees Princess Zelda from imprisonment in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle, which has been taken over by the betraying sorcerer, Agahnim, she tells him of a way to escape safely; a secret passage in the Throne Room that leads to a Sanctuary. Upon reaching the throne room, Link and Princess Zelda combine their efforts to push aside an ornamental shelf, revealing a pitch dark tunnel that was hidden behind it. If Link doesn't possess a Lamp, the game will not allow the ornamental shelf to be pushed.

Entering the tunnel with Link's Lamp to light the way, it begins as a seemingly normal castle room, until they continue deeper, where they find themselves trudging through a sewer area full of enemies such as Rats and Keese. Navigating through this area takes Link and Zelda to a well lit room with a pair of cracked walls that Link can break down later in the game with the Pegasus Shoes or Bombs to find a considerable amount of Rupees. To get back to this room later, Link must find a secret headstone in the Graveyard east of the Sanctuary.

Climbing a staircase in the room leads to a pair of rooms with wooden floorboards, the second of which contains two switches; one is a trap, while the other opens the way to the Sanctuary. After pulling the correct switch, Link and Princess Zelda step through to be greeted by a Loyal Sage who is waiting for them there, and finally breathe in some fresh air.