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This is a question that worries quite a few people. First off, French labor law states that you're entitled to paid leave every year - usually 5 weeks for a full-time contract. If you don't take it, your employer can't just keep the unused days indefinitely. There are specific rules about this, and it depends a bit on your collective agreement or company agreement, but overall you should be able to get them back or claim them.
The thing is, unused leave accumulates in what's called "right to leave," and there are reference periods. If you change jobs or leave the company, your employer has to pay you in cash for all the leave you're entitled to and haven't taken. It's not just something you can let slide. Besides, it's actually illegal for your employer to explicitly ask you to give up your leave.
My advice would be to write to your employer (email or letter, keep a record) to clearly ask how they plan to handle your unused leave. Mention that you want to take it, or if it's really impossible, that you want to know the payment terms. If you find they're putting obstacles in your way or just refusing, you can contact the labor inspection office in your region - they won't let you hang without answering, and they'll know all about this better than any forum would.
It depends on your company and your collective agreement, but generally you can't just keep all your days off indefinitely - you have to take them before a certain date (usually end of December) or you lose them, unless your employer explicitly agrees to carry them over. You'd better check your contract or ask payroll directly to find out exactly how it works at your place.
I had to deal with this last year and it was pretty messy until I figured out how it actually works. Technically, you're entitled to your paid time off - it's the law. If you don't take it, your employer can't just keep it forever, even though they often try to drag things out. The thing is, the rules vary depending on your collective agreement and your contract, but generally you need to use them up before the end of the calendar year or before a certain deadline (often end of September or end of November the following year, it depends).
What you should do: keep a written record of your unused days. Ask your employer when they want you to take them or suggest some dates to them. If you can't reach an agreement and you leave your job, you're normally supposed to be paid for the remaining days - but it needs to be clear beforehand. Honestly, a lot of people let themselves get walked all over because they don't dare ask or the employer acts dumb about it. If it's really a hassle, you can always reach out to a union or a labor law advisor, they can explain exactly what applies to your situation.
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