Three-year (2006, 2008 and 2009) QTL detection studies were conducted at INRA-Bordeaux (France) on a sweet cherry F 1 progeny population derived from the cross between 'Regina' and 'Lapins'. 'Regina' is a very late blooming and ripening variety with low fruit cracking susceptibility. 'Lapins', one of the first widely commercialised self-fertile varieties, blooms relatively early, has an intermediate ripening date, and is relatively susceptible to fruit cracking. The progeny is composed of 124 F 1 individuals planted on their own roots in the orchard and their duplicates were grafted on Tabel Edabriz and planted in pots. A partially saturated linkage map was constructed with 89 and 72 SSR markers for both parents, 'Regina' and 'Lapins', respectively. Traits were measured during 2 or 3 years, including bud break date, bloom and ripening dates, cracking susceptibility, fruit weight, and fruit firmness. Fruit cracking (% of cracked fruits), based on the observation of 100 randomly selected fruits, was evaluated on individuals planted in the orchard and on individuals planted in pots, according to different tests. The first test was conducted using the potted trees grown in a plastic tunnel with an automatic irrigation system. The trees were moved into the tunnel at the period of maximum cracking susceptibility and constant amounts of water were sprayed over the trees for five consecutive days. For the second test, trees planted in the field were used and fruits were harvested at physiological maturity. Finally, these same trees were used for the classical Christensen test. The strongest and most stable QTLs were found for the following traits: bloom and ripening dates (LG4 and LG5), mean fruit weight (LG2 and LG3), and fruit firmness (LG2). QTLs for cracking susceptibility were relatively weak and variable across years. Implications for sweet cherry breeding and the use of marker-assisted selection are discussed.